We cannot watch a movie or any big television event in my house without popcorn! My daughter and I have a lot of popcorn topping combinations, depending on our mood and what we are watching. Girl’s Night usually involves M&Ms! This one came to me the other night when I was making popcorn for me and me alone! That never happens. I love the flavors of rosemary, parmesan and lemon together. It just sounded amazing on popcorn. And it is.
You may have seen this method of popping popcorn on the internet recently. It’s wonderful. Using a paper lunch bag, some popcorn kernels and your microwave you get a fat-free-canvas-of-a-snack to do with whatever you wish! I’ll never go back to buying pre-packaged microwave popcorn again!
Rosemary Parmesan Popcorn
You are going to love this easy, fat-free method of popping popcorn in minutes! This topping has become a popular favorite! For vegetarians and vegans, see options below.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels I use organic popcorn
- 1 large paper lunch bag
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- a bit of cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese to keep this vegan, sub with 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
- zest of one lemon
Instructions
- In a paper lunch bag, add the popcorn kernels and fold the top of the bag down two times. Place in your microwave and cook on high for about 3 minutes and 45 seconds. Microwaves vary greatly, and after many attempts, that is what I found to work with mine. Err on the side of less time when you are doing this...burnt popcorn is awful!
- While the popcorn is popping, combine the olive oil, rosemary, sea salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- When the popcorn is done, pour it out into a large bowl, drizzle with the olive oil mixture, then grate the Parmesan and the lemon over top and mix.
Notes
If your popcorn kernels are not popping properly, keep the kernels in the refrigerator for a day or two. This restores the moisture in the kernel and should help them pop better.
Use a microplane or fine zester to grate both the Parmesan and the lemon. They'll give you a finer end result that adheres well to the popcorn.
Looks amazing! Can you cook the kernals on a stove like normal popcorn kernals? Thanks!!
Thanks so much, Katie! Absolutely! After popping on the stovetop, just drizzle on the toppings…it’ll be delicious! :)
Sounds amazing!! Does it not get soggy with the olive oil?
Thanks so much, Katie! No, it doesn’t get soggy…it’s really delicious!
Parmesan is not vegan :(
Very true, Mark. It’s not vegetarian either. If you’d like to make this vegan or vegetarian, try using the tip I provide in the recipe…sub with nutritional yeast flakes in place of the Parmesan. Hope you love it.
The Nutritional Yeast is a great substitute!
I agree, David! I sprinkle it on so many things…it’s got great flavor. Thanks for stopping in!
So glad I found your site. Popcorn is my favorite. I’m always creating new flavors. This one sounds great especially since I don’t want sweet popcorn most of the time. I’m making this tonight.
Thanks so much, Stephanie! We eat a lot of popcorn too! Hope you love it!
Some of my favorite flavors! Thanks for the inspiration … I will definitely be giving this a try.
I love fancy popcorn toppings. Lemon & rosemary popcorn sounds scrumptious! i’ll have to try this. I don’t eat cheese but my boyfriend loves it on his popcorn. thanks!
Thanks so much Olivia! So glad you like this! My family thought the lemon sounded nuts…until they tried it. It really works with the rosemary. If you make it, let me know what you think! :)
5 stars. Our families favorite seasoning hands down. We don’t always use OO, sometimes we’ll switch it up to butter. It’s the Rosemary that just kicks it up to fantastic. Thanks for the inspiriation.
Susan, your message just made my day! I’m so glad your family likes it so much! I like to change it up with butter too sometimes…it’s delicious! I agree…the rosemary is really great in this! Thanks so much for taking the time to message me!
I don’t understand why you’d call this fat free when it has both olive oil and parmesan. Yes, it looks yummy, and undoubtedly is much lower in fat that most popcorn. But it’s not fat free.
I’m really glad you think this looks yummy Shannon. It really is. What I referred to as “fat free” was this method of popping popcorn, not the recipe itself. If you give it a try, let me know how you like it!
She is correct in what she said…after giving the process for popping the corn it states “you get a fat free canvas of a snack to do with whatever you wish”. The statement is in reference to popping corn in a lunch bag without oil in the microwave as opposed to stating it about the final recipe with this particular topping applied.
Wow! This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much Stacy! I’m so glad you think so! Let me know how you like it! :)
Hi Caroline, I’m a friend of your cousin Chris and a personal chef/small event caterer in Redwood City. Chris showed me your fantastic blog and you have inspired me. Love photography! I’m looking forward to making the rosemary parmesan popcorn for clients this weekend! Thanks for the great recipe!
Margie, thank you so much for your encouraging words! I’m thrilled that you’ll be making the Parmesan Popcorn! I think you’ll love it and it’s so easy to do in the microwave! Thanks for taking the time to write me! :)