6 snack ideas according to your favourite movie genre

For faint-hearted hopeless romantics, any form of sweet treats mirrors the sentimentality of the romantic comedy genre. The most basic candied walnuts need only three ingredients: sugar, butter, and walnuts. Heat unsalted butter and sugar over medium heat and resist the urge to stir—the sugar will crystallise. Once silky and golden, turn off the heat and swiftly add in walnuts, making sure to coat each one. Working fast is critical so you don’t end up with a slab of walnut brittle. Spread the walnuts onto a baking paper-lined heatproof tray and sprinkle with flaky sea salt in case the movie you choose ends on a bittersweet note. An incredibly versatile snack, this method of candying works great with pecans and peanuts and can be customised with spices like ginger or cinnamon.

When watching an informative yet riveting piece of cinema, the accompanying snack should be focused on its educational content. Hummus proves perfect, being a non-committal dish you can graze on without losing focus. Making hummus at home is as easy as picking a container up from the store. Combine canned or soaked chickpeas with a drizzle of tahini and garlic (roasted or raw, depending on how pungent you want your dip). Drizzle in olive oil while blending until smooth. Add more olive oil if you prefer a runnier hummus. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Add in complementary spices like sumac or smoked paprika for added depth. To go the extra mile, top with pine nuts, feta cheese, or chopped parsley. Serve alongside herbed crackers, julienned veggies, or toasted pita bread.

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No cinematic experience is complete without popcorn—especially horror. Clutching a box of movie theatre popcorn is a rite of passage for any horror fiend. Suppose you struggle to remain separate from movie theatre popcorn when on the edge of your seat during the newest Emerald Fennel original. In that case, this simplified version of homemade caramel popcorn is for you. Discovered by this writer by accident, this recipe uses reduced sweetened tea instead of caramel. Steep a few tea bags in water, simmering on medium heat. Add sugar to taste and let thicken into syrup. Quickly pour over any kind of already popped popcorn and let it cool. You can use any flavour of tea, but a base of black tea is preferred to emulate cinema caramel accurately. 

If you enjoy arthouse independent cinema or sub-genres people in your life have never heard of, try caprese salad skewers for an equally exploratory experience. Instead of hunching over your coffee table to avoid bits of salad getting everywhere, streamline your elevated snack experience with the help of skewers. Layer the ingredients of a classic caprese salad—bocconcini, basil, and cherry tomatoes—onto a wooden skewer and drizzle with balsamic glaze or olive oil, depending on your disposition. Roll basil leaves first and then pierce with the skewer to prevent ripping.  

Much like magical realism, grazing platters are a mixed bag which can encompass any number of fixings. From cheese to charcuterie to fruit, any bite-sized ingredient can be transformed into an elevated snack board with the help of a wooden chopping block. Gather your favourite olives, cheeses, fruit preserves, or pickles and plate them artfully onto a serving board if you have one on hand. A simple plate will do too. Include interesting varieties of tinned fish or seafood if you’d like your snack to be as adventurous as your favourite genre. Serve with bread or crackers you think will pair well. 

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