DSC_0186

It’s no secret we consume a lot of popcorn in my house. I’ve made my husband cut back to twice a week for a bit just because it was getting out of hand and summer is coming. Yes, it’s a healthier snack but not when you eat giant movie sized buckets almost every night.

Since it’s spring, and the fresh scent of lemon always makes me happy, I wanted to share this simple way to add some pizazz to your popcorn. Just a sprinkle of salt and pepper (I usually omit the pepper), a little lemon zest, and some Parmesan cheese and you’ve got a healthy, gourmet snack. I love adding the cheese because you get the salty taste without adding a lot of extra salt.

DSC_0189

Lemon Parmesan Popcorn

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely grated
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels


Combine zest, pepper, salt, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in a small bowl.

Heat oil in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add popcorn to oil in saucepan; cover and cook 2 minutes or until kernels begin to pop, shaking pan frequently. Continue cooking 1 minute, shaking pan constantly. When popping slows down, remove pan from heat. Let stand 1 minute or until all popping stops. Pour 6 cups popcorn into a large bowl; stir in half of cheese mixture. Stir in remaining 6 cups popcorn and remaining half of cheese mixture; toss to coat. Let stand 1 minute before serving.

Source: Cooking Light December 2013