What’s Up, Hungry People

Since Futurama first aired, fans have been captivated by the hilarious and outlandish foods featured in the show. From Slurm to Bachelor Chow, the future’s cuisine is equal parts bizarre and fascinating. Among all of these, Popplers stood out as a fan favorite, both for their irresistibly crunchy appeal and the moral conundrum they present. While we may never know what the real Popplers taste like (without getting in trouble with the Omicronians, at least), this shrimp-based version captures the same crispy, savory goodness we’ve seen in the show.

Personally, Futurama has been one of my favorite shows since I was 12, and after dozens of requests to make Popplers over on TikTok, I thought it was about time to try one of the fictional foods I’ve always wanted to taste for myself. Today, we’re blasting off to the future to taste-test some of the tastiest tidbits in the entire universe.

Popplers were discovered on an M-Class planet during a mission to find roddenberries, quickly becoming Earth’s most popular snack, thanks to Fishy Joe’s. Of course, it didn’t take long before everyone realized that Popplers were more than just delicious – they were the baby version of Omicronians from Omicron Persei 8.

Lrrr and Nd-Nd didn’t take kindly to humans munching on their young. In fact, Lrrr declared that one human should be eaten for every Poppler consumed, which racked up a total of 198 billion humans. Unfortunately for the Omicronians, even in the 31st century, there aren’t that many humans in the entire universe, let alone on Earth. So, the result was a ban on selling popplers – despite how delicious they are.

omnicronians from futurama looking at camera

This recipe brings Popplers straight from the screen to your kitchen, allowing fans of the show to experience one of the most iconic snacks of the 31st century. It’s a fun and easy way to recreate a piece of the Futurama universe while keeping things simple and delicious. With just a few ingredients and a little bit of frying magic, you’ll be snacking on your very own batch of Popplers in no time – without triggering an intergalactic incident.

“Hear me, hear me! Stop eating Popplers! Stop eating them with honey mustard sauce. Stop eating them with tangy sweet-and-sour sauce. Stop taking advantage of the money-saving 12-pack!”
Bender, Futurama S02E18 “The Problem With Popplers”

Good news everyone!

Making Popplers at home is easier than stopping the space time continuum from collapsing in on itself – and without all the icky the moral quandaries that come with eating a sentient being.

shrimp – Fry calls Popplers shrimp while Bender insists they’re prawns, so I’m sticking with the shrimpy human.
flour – Helps absorb excess liquid and coats the shrimp before frying.
garlic powder & onion powder – Give the Popplers a nice savory punch of flavor.
cumin & paprika – Bring that earthiness and smoky undertone.
Tajin – Optional but adds a fun citrusy, spicy kick.
celery salt – Adds a salty, savory pop.
eggs – Binds the cornflakes to the shrimp, like glue, but tastier.
corn flakes – Gives the crispy “scales” we’re after, the perfect Poppler texture.
vegetable oil – For frying up these tasty, crunchy morsels.

Making Popplers at Home

Sentience aside, these tasty Popplers deliver all the crispy, crunchy goodness that you’d expect from popplers. Plus, they are outright adorable – better eat them all before they can signal to the Omnicronians what our position is…

Add shrimp to the baggie and coat completely.
Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan (half inch deep).
Whisk two eggs in a bowl.
Crush cornflakes in a separate shallow bowl.
Dredge shrimp in egg, then coat with cornflakes.
Fry shrimp in batches for 30 seconds to one minute per side.
Serve with sweet and sour or mustard sauce.

It’s so easy, even Scruffy the Janitor would be impressed.

Extra Tips for Poppler Perfection

Use fresh shrimp if possible: Frozen shrimp work just fine, but if you want the best texture and flavor, fresh shrimp is the way to go. Just make sure they’re peeled and de-tailed before starting.
Control your oil temperature: If your oil is too hot, the cornflakes will burn before the shrimp are fully cooked. Aim for medium heat and adjust as needed while frying.
Don’t crowd the pan: Frying too many at once will drop the oil temperature, leaving you with soggy, unevenly cooked Popplers. Fry in small batches and keep them crispy.
Crush your cornflakes by hand: Crushing the cornflakes too finely will result in a breaded texture rather than the crispy coating you want. Lightly crush them for the best crunch.
Swap sauces for variety: While sweet and sour and mustard sauce are classic, you can serve these with sriracha mayo or even a spicy ranch for a fun twist.

Common Quandries

Can I bake these instead of frying? Yes! You can bake them at 400°F for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. They won’t be as crispy as frying, but it’s a great alternative if you’re avoiding frying.
What’s a good substitute for corn flakes? Panko breadcrumbs can give a similar crunch, though corn flakes will give you that Poppler-like scale texture.
How do I know when the shrimp are done? Shrimp cook quickly. You’ll know they’re done when they turn opaque and pink, and the coating is golden brown.
Can I make Popplers ahead of time? Popplers are best served fresh, but you can fry them and keep them warm in the oven at 200°F for about 15-20 minutes.

Watch It on TikTok

@fictionalfeastfelicia Replying to @dawgfather187 this recipe is brought to you by Molten Boron 🛸 #fictionalfeast #reciperequest #thestarvingchef #theproblemwithpopplers #fishyjoes #futurama #popplers #futuramafood #planetexpressship #fictionalfeasts #reciperequests #fryandbender ♬ Futurama Theme – Ben Morfitt (SquidPhysics)

Popplers have been a bucket list recipe for me since I started my journey into fictional feasting. But I need your help with what fictional recipe I should cook up next. Send me your suggestions over on TikTok for your favorite fictional meals or leave an idea in the comments below!

Now that I’ve made Popplers, they’ve earned a permanent spot in my fictional feasts lineup. The crispy cornflake coating is perfect, and the shrimp inside is tender, giving them that “can’t stop eating” appeal. Plus, making them yourself means no Omicronian invasions to worry about. So, gather your ingredients, fry up a batch, and let me know what you think – just be sure to eat them before they hatch any plans for revenge!

This recipe was originally posted in 2020 – it’s almost as old as Fry himself!!

Copycat Popplers from Futurama

The Starving Chef

Crunchy cornflake-coated shrimp with savory spices, inspired by Futurama’s iconic snack.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Course Copycat Recipes, Fictional Feasts

Cuisine Finger Food, Seafood, Snack

Servings

Equipment

Ingredients

16 oz shrimp peeled & tails removed, thawed if frozen
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon spicy Tajin optional
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon celery salt
2 eggs whisked
3 cups corn flakes lightly crushed
1 cup vegetable oil + more as needed for frying

Instructions

In a large plastic bag, combine the flour, garlic powder, cumin, Tajin, onion powder, smoked paprika, and celery salt. Add the shrimp to the bag and shake well, ensuring the shrimp are completely coated in the flour mixture.
Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan, ensuring the oil is about ½ inch deep. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until frothy. In a separate shallow bowl, add the corn flakes and lightly crush them with your fingertips.
Dredge the flour-coated shrimp first in the whisked eggs, allowing any excess egg to drip off. Transfer the shrimp to the corn flakes, pressing and flipping the shrimp so they are evenly coated with the crushed corn flakes. Repeat until all the shrimp are coated.
Fry the shrimp in batches for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Be careful, as the corn flakes can burn quickly if left too long.
Serve with tangy sweet and sour sauce or mustard sauce. Ignore pleas for help. Don’t tell the Omicronians where you found them. Enjoy!