The Perfect Appetizer
Today’s aperitivo: Passionfruit Margarita with Duck Fat + Black Pepper Popcorn.
This shiz is for real good. I used to always think it was weird when people would say that their favorite drink was a margarita. I had only ever tried the cloyingly sweet versions made from a mix or pre-squeezed citrus. Did you know that citrus starts to lose some of it’s flavor just 15 minutes after squeezing? Most bars pre-juice their citrus because they have to work and make a lot of things happen quickly. I get it- but once I tried a margarita with lime juice squeezed immediately before shaking….bro, I was shaking. This is the full stop best way to have it in my opinion. Once passion fruit came into season here in So Cal, I immediately scooped up a bunch from the market… where they sat in my fridge for lack of inspiration. I have been loving this Amish white popcorn I bought recently, and after I popped it in duck fat (duh) and showered it with sea salt and black pepper, I obviously needed a drink. And if you give a mouse a popcorn, she’s gonna want the margarita to go with it. When I reached for the limes I saw the passionfruit and bingo.
Duck Fat and Black Pepper Popcorn
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp duck fat I like the Epic brand
- 1 Cup Amish white popcorn kernals or your favorite brand
- 1 Tbsp fresh ground black pepper
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt duck fat. Add kernels and cover the pot. Cook until the sound of kernels popping subsides and you are only hearing one pop every 10-15 seconds. Season with salt and pepper.