‘Girl Meets Farm’: Molly Yeh’s Popcorn Salad Might Be the Most Controversial Salad on the Internet
Popcorn in a salad? Celebrity chef Molly Yeh’s done it. Fans of the Food Network show, Girl Meets Farm, probably already know Yeh for her unique flavor combinations. Crunchy Snap Pea Popcorn Salad is her latest recipe featuring out-of-the-box pairings that have the internet divided.
Molly Yeh’s Crunchy Snap Pea Popcorn Salad recipe went viral in April 2021
According to TODAY, this salad recipe from Yeh went viral after Twitter user @AudVisuals tweeted a clip of the Girl Meets Farm host making the recipe on her show. The ingredients? Sour cream, popcorn, vegetables, and mayonnaise. The internet erupted, causing the recipe to go viral thanks to its unusual ingredient list. Needless to say, reactions on social media varied.
Yeh’s not the first — and she probably won’t be the last — Food Network star to have a recipe go viral. In April 2020, a video of Barefoot Contessa host, Ina Garten, making a giant cocktail went viral when the Modern Comfort Food author posted it as an April Fools’ Day joke.
The Girl Meets Farm popcorn salad has mixed reviews
Putting popcorn in a salad is bound to get different reactions from taste testers. At the time of publication, Yeh’s popcorn salad, which she described on Girls Meets Farm as a “riff on an iconic Midwestern dish,” has three out of five stars on Food Network’s website.
“I had to try this recipe and it wasn’t terrible! But, I wouldn’t make it again with the popcorn,” one reviewer said. “The initial crunch and different textures are good, but I found I kept getting pieces of kernel stuck in my teeth, which was off-putting.”
They added another downside: “You also can’t keep the leftovers because it gets soggy. I will use this dressing recipe again, though! It’s got great flavor and would be great for a macaroni salad!”
A different reviewer described the salad as “really tasty!” saying that “Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks and this surprisingly delicious recipe does not disappoint!” They also noted they “did take some creative liberties with the ingredients,” adding the “dressing to the popcorn at serving rather than blending the whole batch to avoid sogginess.”
Someone else said they’d “definitely make this again” noting, “We loved the textures and colors of all the veggies and the tangy dressing brought everything together perfectly!”
Others weren’t happy with the recipe. One reviewer wrote, “I love Molly but this is absolute NO!,” before referring to it as a “waste of good ingredients.” The reviewer also rejected Yeh’s claim about it being a Midwestern dish: “None of my friends or family heard of it before – I live in Wisconsin.”
How to make Yeh’s Crunchy Snap Pea Popcorn Salad
Here’s how to make Yeh’s viral popcorn salad. Start with what else but popcorn. Season it while it’s still hot. While it cools, chop the vegetables and prepare the mayonnaise dressing. Toss the vegetables with the dressing before finally adding the popcorn and serving. A simple salad recipe that went viral all because of the addition of popcorn.
