Popcorn is hands-down one of my FAVOURITE snacks. I especially love it when it is cooked in coconut oil, and topped with nutritional yeast and dill. If you haven’t tried this flavour combination yet you are in for a treat! Make this healthy nutritional yeast popcorn recipe with dill for your next movie night in.
Hurray for popcorn! The guilt-free, crunchy goodness that is oh-so-satisfying when paired with a good movie, and an even better with a friend. My longtime friend Alexa treated me to this amazing combination for my last Christmas gift, with the popcorn kernels in a cute mason jar and the toppings alongside to accompany them. What could be better than a night in with your best gal a bowl full of delicious nutritional yeast popcorn with dill!
Why I Made This Nutritional Yeast Popcorn Recipe
Nutritional Yeast Is An Alternative To Cheese
Nutritional yeast offers a cheesy flavour and is commonly used as an alternative to parmesan cheese. It is also fortified with vitamin B12 so it can be a vital ingredient in many vegan diets or for those who limit their intake of animal products.
Nutritional Yeast Triggers The Fifth Taste
Thanks to the glutamates, nutritional yeast is high in umami or the fifth taste (after sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness) which can also be described as ‘savoury’. Other foods that trigger the umami flavour include soy sauce, miso and parmesan cheese. I personally love umami foods – see this favourite dressing recipe that features miso – Japanese Salad Bowl with Miso Tahini Dressing.
Popcorn Is A Healthy Snack
It could be argued that popcorn is a vegetable. It is high in fibre and minimally processed. In terms of crunchy, salty, buttery snacks, popcorn tops the list for the healthiest option. Of course, it depends on what you put on it, hence why I am sharing my healthy nutritional yeast popcorn recipe!
Popcorn Is A Budget Snack
Making your own popcorn at home is inexpensive and much cheaper than microwavable bags of popcorn. Don’t worry, you can still make this popcorn in a microwave – see below.
Tips For Making This Nutritional Yeast Popcorn
Which Popcorn Kernels To Use?
I used organic popcorn kernels to avoid genetically modified corn (see my post Genetically Modified Foods Pros and Cons for more info). You can opt for coloured popcorn kernels, but know that when they pop they will all be the same colour.
Can I Make Homemade Popcorn In The Microwave?
Yes, you can! All you need is a lunch-sized paper bag, which you can get at most grocery stores. Simply place 1/4 cup of kernels in a paper bag and fold the top closed a few times. Lay the bag on its side, with the folded side down and use the popcorn setting on your microwave.
Can I Use A Popcorn Maker?
I use my popcorn maker almost as often as my Vitamix (a lot!). Popcorn makers are great because you don’t need to use any oil, and there is minimal cleanup. Simply add the kernels and pop-away. Most popcorn makers have a removable cup on the lid which can be used to heat butter or oil while the kernels are popping.
How To Make Stove-Top Popcorn?
The trick is making sure the oil is hot. When you think the oil is hot enough, add 3 popcorn kernels and cover with a lid and wait until the three kernels have popped. Remove the three kernels proceed with the remaining kernels, ensuring they are in a single layer.
Once you have added all the kernels, remove the pan from the heat for about 30 seconds; this ensures that the kernels are all at a near-popping temperature so they will pop evenly.
Flavour Variations For Healthy Popcorn
As much as I love nutritional yeast and dill, here are a few other ways to enjoy your healthy popcorn.
- Curry Popcorn: Add 1 tablespoon of curry powder to the finished popcorn
- Seasoning Salt: Add 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning salt and 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
- Seaweed Popcorn: Add 3 tablespoons of dulse seaweed flakes. Even better if you mix these into the heated oil or butter.
Want Some More Healthy Snack Ideas?
Try some of these favourite snack recipes:
- Beetroot Dip with Cream Cheese
- Hemp and Sunflower Seed Vegan Pate
- Lebanese Wild Fennel Pesto
- Raw Almond Paleo Hummus Recipe
- Low Carb Gluten-Free Cracker Recipe with Seeds
Nutritional Yeast Popcorn Recipe with Dill | 100 Calorie Snack
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil optional*
- 1/4 cup popcorn kernels organic
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp dill dried
- dash salt optional
Instructions
- If you have a popcorn maker then woohoo, life just got easier. If you want to make your popcorn in a brown-paper bag in the microwave see notes below.
- For stove-top method. Heat the 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil in a large flat bottom saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 3 popcorn kernels and cover with a lid. Wait until the three kernels have popped - your pan is now hot enough!
- Remove the three kernels and pour in the rest of the kernels, ensuring they are in a single layer. Remove the pan from the heat for about 30 seconds; this ensures that the kernels are all at a near-popping temperature so they will pop evenly. Now put the pan back on the heat and cover with a lid.
- Once the kernels start popping start to shake the pan gently. Once the popping slows down to once every few seconds, remove the popcorn from the heat. Wait before removing the lid as there may be a few delayed pops. Pour the popcorn into a large bowl.
- While the popcorn is cooking heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a small saucepan to melt it.
- Now drizzle half the coconut oil onto the popcorn, followed by half of the nutritional yeast and dill. Give the popcorn a good mix and shake, and then pour over the remaining ingredients. Mix until the popcorn is well and evenly coated. Season with salt if desired. YUM!
Notes
Can I Make Homemade Popcorn In The Microwave?
All you need is a lunch-sized paper bag, which you can get at most grocery stores. Simply place 1/4 cup of kernels in a paper bag and fold the top closed a few times. Lay the bag on its side, with the folded side down and use the popcorn setting on your microwave.Can I Use A Popcorn Maker?
Simply add the kernels and pop-away. Most popcorn makers have a removable cup on the lid which can be used to heat butter or oil while the kernels are popping.Flavour Variations For Healthy Popcorn
As much as I love nutritional yeast and dill, here are a few other ways to enjoy your healthy popcorn.- Curry Popcorn: Add 1 tablespoon of curry powder to finished popcorn
- Seasoning Salt: Add 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning salt and 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
- Seaweed Popcorn: Add 3 tablespoons of dulse seaweed flakes. Even better if you mix these into the heated oil or butter.
Nutrition
Rachel Dickens is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She graduated with her Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2010 from Griffith University and is currently a PhD student at UBC. She strives to provide evidence-based nutrition information with a focus on Indigenous Food Sovereignty while sharing diabetes-friendly recipes and tips for diabetes prevention.
Aw man this looks like an awesome healthy snack! Love nutritional yeast!
Hey Kelsey! How good is nutritional yeast! It goes on everything!!
Dill is one of my favorite herbs! Yum!
I agree Camille! Dill is one of my favs as well!