What is popcorn salad? Viral recipe by chef Molly Yeh horrifies the internet

The internet can be a strange and mysterious place when it comes to food trends.

Over the past few years, we've had platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to thank for the popularity of the most bizarre-sounding dishes – from pancake cereal to raindrop cakes.

But, just when you think you’ve seen it all, something so outlandish pops up that it warrants a pause to figure out exactly what's going on.

This time, it’s Food Network that's under fire after it posted a recipe and video from one of its chefs, Molly Yeh. The dish? Popcorn salad – and, yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

The recipe combines popcorn with mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, Dijon mustard, peas, carrot, celery and watercress, among other ingredients.

"It's so Midwestern, so quirky and so delicious," Yeh is seen saying in a video posted on social media and viewed more than 1.7 million times.

What the hell is this pic.twitter.com/7PSYVtytQ8
— Cody Tapp (@codybtapp) April 11, 2021

However, the internet has widely disagreed, with many calling the dish an abomination.

"Got to be a parody," one Twitter user posted.

No way this is a real recipe. Got to be a parody
— Eric (@emh1729) April 11, 2021

What the hell is this pic.twitter.com/7PSYVtytQ8
— Cody Tapp (@codybtapp) April 11, 2021

Another user called it "popcorn violence".

@bepryor this is popcorn violence
— Elizabeth (@ebelden) April 11, 2021

One fan wondered if the coronavirus pandemic was to blame for Yeh's creation.

Molly usually brings the flavor. Clearly the pandemic has changed her in a horrible way.
— Caroline (@o_line) April 12, 2021

While another compared it to some people's concerns about Covid-19 vaccines.

If you looked at the popcorn salad and thought, “Hmm, that looks good,” then I never want to hear you talk about being worried about what’s in the Covid vaccine.
— Corey Richardson (@vexedinthecity) April 11, 2021

Other than the bizarre ingredient combination, one of the biggest issues seems to be about how the salad stays fresh. After all, it would stand to reason that a salad dressing of mayonnaise and sour cream would made the popcorn soggy.

And, as many have pointed out, there is absolutely nothing appealing about soggy popcorn.

I have lots of questions about the popcorn salad, but the one at the forefront is: wouldn’t the mayo dressing make the popcorn soggy as it sits?
— Aaron Hutcherson (@thehungryhutch) April 11, 2021

Me adding a little extra Mayo to the popcorn salad so it gets extra soggy☺️ pic.twitter.com/fRGi19E8cT
— D’Ussé Corazones (@REBL_103) April 12, 2021

While the video was posted weeks ago, it’s now picking up steam. Some have questioned whether Yeh herself likes the dish, with others suggesting recreating it to see if it’s actually any good.