Homemade popcorn is one of my all time favorite things to eat. I can crush an insane amount of it in one sitting – it’s slightly inhuman. Most people I know aren’t super used to making homemade popcorn, but it is SO easy, and it’s a million times better, IMO.
I use something called a Whirley Pop, but you can use a lot of different things. I’ve seen air poppers for popcorn that are pretty cool, too. And I’ve also read about people making it in just a standard dutch oven over the stove. I’m a Whirley Pop proponent #forlife though. Love it.
Throw your popcorn in there and minutes later, you’ve got fluffy, crunchy, hot and fresh popcorn ready to be smothered in whatever toppings you desire.
My usual go to is EMBARRASSING amounts of butter and enough salt to raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels within a thirty minute period. And this is my problem with homemade popcorn. At its base, it’s way healthier than the microwave kind because it doesn’t have all the junk, fake butter, and artificial flavorings added in. Buuuuttt when you add gallons of butter, it kind of takes the health element away, nah mean?
BUT – I have found a solution. And what a delicious solution it is, friends. Enter: NOOCH POPCORN. Go with me here, because it sounds funky, but if you try it, you will be a nooch popcorn convert FO-EVA.
What is nooch? A funny little nickname for nutritional yeast. What is nutritional yeast? In technical terms, all it is is deactivated yeast. In non technical terms, it is a powdered/flaked vegan super food that just so happens to be nutty, cheesy, savory, and DELICIOUS. I first started using it when I did Whole 30 last year, and it’s lived in my pantry ever since.
But on popcorn…oh man. It’s the freakin’ best.
And the best part? It converts butter loaded popcorn into a lightly oiled, flavor PACKED healthy snack. Did you know that popcorn itself is actually fantastic for you? It’s low in calorie, high in fiber, and loaded with antioxidants. The problem comes from when we load it up with cups of butter/other delicious but not so healthy goodies.
But instead of doing that, we air pop this popcorn, add just a little bit of coconut oil + butter combo to lightly coat the popcorn just enough to make the seasonings stick, and then absolutely PILE on the nutritional yeast + some salt. Because you can’t really have popcorn without the salty bite…right?? Skip that part if you want, but I can’t. I am too weak to resist the salty goodness.
And that’s all there is to it! It’s a healthy, super simple snack that ends up tasting like savory cheddar popcorn with the most complex and delicious flavor. You’ll be thinking, what in the world is in this to make it taste so dang good? Nutritional yeast, friends. It’s revolutionary.
I’m a nooch popcorn convert, now and forever. I raise my right hand and solemnly swear to never load my popcorn up with an entire stick of butter (don’t judge) again – I will solely use this delicious and healthy powder from heaven. LOVE.
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries so I can see!
We love the whirley pop and can embarrassingly eat a TON of popcorn too. Where do you find this yeast?
Yessss. I get it on amazon! Just search for “Nutritional Yeast”!