This Spicy Parmesan Party Popcorn is the cheapest and fastest party food I know. I made it up on the fly one day when I had a friend around for lunch and was pressed for time. It’s ridiculously good value (it costs maybe $2 for an enormous bowl) and you can lay out bowls and bowls and bowls of it for your guests to snack on when they arrive.
Spicy Parmesan Party Popcorn
The pressure to “deliver” is high when you have a new food blogger friend coming round for lunch and you’ve had a shocker of a weekend so you haven’t had time to prepare for a fancy meal.
This new friend is Amanda from Chew Town who is such good value that even if I served her a ham sandwich with store bought bread, she would still munch it down with enthusiasm. I’ve always said that even toast tastes special when someone else makes it for you. She thinks like that too.
That’s my type of people. 🙂
I literally had 30 minutes to prepare snacks and lunch before she arrived. With no time to do a grocery run, I decided to make do with the measly amount of popcorn kernels I had left to make something to snack on while we chatted.
I was thrilled when she started tucking into the popcorn with a vengeance, and admitted to me that her poison is popcorn. How much more validation can you get? Especially from someone who is such a talented cook!
Popcorn is not something that people generally think of as savoury party food, but I hope this inspires some of you to give it a try. It is cheaper than chips and dip, something different and so moorish that your friends will be shovelling it down by the handful! It is such great party food. It will be making a regular appearance at my gatherings from now on!
The problem I have with popcorn with seasonings sprinkled on it is getting the flavour to stick to the popcorn. To this day, I have never figured out an easier way to do this than the way I have done it for this recipe – using oil spray to lightly coat the popcorn before sprinkling the flavour on.
If anyone knows a better way (without pouring buckets of butter on it!), I would love to hear it!
– Nagi
More Popcorn recipes
-
Movie Popcorn – buttery, yellow and it stays crisp for days!
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Spicy Parmesan Party Popcorn
Ingredients
Popcorn
- ¼ cup vegetable oil (not required if air popping with a popcorn maker)
- ½ cup popping corn
Flavourings
- Olive oil spray
- 1/2 to 2/3 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese (finely grated) (Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp fine salt (Not flakes because it won't stick. Table salt is fine)
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (or chilli) (adjust to your taste)
- 1/2 tsp paprika (optional - this is for a bit of extra colour)
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn in a popcorn maker or on the stove (see steps 2 and 3).
- Make popcorn on the stove: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add a few pieces of popcorn - if the corn slowly spins in the oil then the oil is hot enough.
- Add remaining popcorn and cover with a lid. Once the popcorn starts popping, shake the pot gently every now and then.
- Remove from heat when the popping stops (when you can count to 3 between pops) and transfer to a large bowl.
- Combine the salt, cayenne pepper and paprika in a small bowl and mix to combine ("Spice Mix.
- Get a large serving bowl and place 1/3 of the popcorn in it. Spray generously with olive oil then sprinkle over 1/3 of the parmesan and 1/3 of the Spice Mix.Repeat twice more. Do not toss. The flavourings will naturally toss through as people start to dig in.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes:
This is an excellent nosh. But really – an appetizer? Amateurs! Popcorn is a main course around here a couple of times a year. The main dish version is a mountain of fresh popped corn with a sauce of butter, hot sauce, soy sauce. Pour it on, add nutritional yeast and no-salt Spike (not sure if that’s available in Oz?). Eat until gorged.
Years ago a friend and I were dining on this during a winter storm when a family came to our door seeking shelter as they could drive no further. Or home was warm and welcoming, but they were pretty nervous about the people who would enthusiastically offer this for dinner! I think we managed to make some spaghetti and canned tomatoes with nutritional yeast as a peace offering. I wonder how they remember that night?
Made the spicy Parmesan party-popcorn for a couple of friends as a pre-dinner munchie. I had to make a second batch as by the time I came out they had scoffed the whole bowl!
That’s the best compliment Bruce, it’s so addictive isn’t it?! N x
Hi Nagi, love your recipes. Planning on making your Carmel corn and Lightly Sweet and Salty popcorn for gifts. How would you adapt the parmesan recipe for gifting? I was going to use Ghee…any other recommendations?
I wasn’t sure about this recipe, but a request spurred me to make it. Crunchy + spicy = YUM Thanks for another winner, Nagi!
Wahoo, that’s great to hear Chris! N x
Fantastic flavors – spicy and cheesy. I never make popcorns at home and your recipe sounds great to begin with. 🙂
Thank you!! Yes, spice + cheese = gold 🙂
Genius idea! To speak the truth, I’m not a big fun of popcorns, but I LOVE them with parmesan! They get so much better when seasoned with savory spices. And I’ll remember the oil spray method 🙂
Thanks Maggie! I can’t eat popcorn plain….way too dry! Must have seasonings! 🙂
Popcorn is my poison too…or at least my absolute weakness. We have it at least twice a week! And this recipe looks so delicious, I’ve got to try it!
Really? You’re even worse than me!! Though of all the snacks to regularly have, this is one of the healthiest, that’s for sure! 🙂
Oh Nagi, these popcorn look awesome, totally addictive…yes, savory are great…I can never get tired of it!
Thanks for the recipe…enjoy the rest of your week 🙂
Thank you Juliana! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Parmesan on popcorn? I would never have thought of going down that route, but now you’ve mentioned it, I can see it would work. I will definitely try!
Thanks Mel! Without the spice, the kids love it too 🙂
As always, you’re such an inspiration! I would love to have a giant bag of this! Of course I’d be so busy stuffing my face with this incredible popcorn, that I would probably be anti-social at a party 😉
I’ve mastered the art of talking with a mouthful of popcorn. It’s quite easy because it’s so light! 🙂
What a fun snack! You made this, lunch and took photos in less 30 minutes. You rock, Nagi! I just love it when food bloggers gather… it makes the world seem like such a small place.
Yes, I’m so glad I met Amanda! She’s loads of fun and it’s so nice to chat face to face about blogging things! 🙂
This is great for a party! Love the flavors nag! Definitely have to try it!
Thanks Mira! Hope you do try them! 🙂
Sodium and fats aside, agree that this party popcorn is more fun to nibble and yes, cheaper. You’ve got a great friend to keep there who knows how to appreciate labour of love 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Thanks Julie and Alesah! 🙂
Haha! You’re my type of people too!! I am so glad you put this recipe up because I am DEFINITELY making it. You and Kevin are both FAR too nice about me 🙂 Thank you both for the gorgeous words… was very touching. XXXX
How could I NOT put up a recipe that you approved?! And the Thai soup is coming up soon too! 🙂
Wow, even your photos of POPCORN astound me! And yum. I wouldn’t have thought of the paprika. Fine choice, and when can I come over for snacks & drinks at your place? 😉
well it sounds like I’ll be coming to YOURS before you make it to mine so I’ll make this and you can make your crab rangoon!! 🙂
This post has made me realise that I have NEVER made any popcorn at home. Wha …? Got to put that one right, and I love the flavours you sprinkled on this one.
Shame I don’t live in Sydney too, Nagi, because I would love to come around and taste your ham sandwiches. I agree that anything tastes good if someone else has made it for you!
Well come on over! It’s just a short flight! I’ll make you a ham sandwich and popcorn!! 😉
De-Li-Cious!! I cannot wait to make this!! I ate a lot of garlic popcorn growing up but I love how creative and original people are being with their spicy additions! Loving this, my friend!
Garlic popcorn? Instant perk up….”popping” over to see if you’ve shared a recipe!!
Popcorn doesn’t get enough love, does it? Flavored popcorn can be wonderful stuff. Really good idea to use a spray to help get the Parmesan to stick — I’m definitely stealing that idea! 😉 Fun post — thanks.
I agree – popcorn is the most underrated party food! It’s crazy cheap – PLUS people don’t fill up on it!!
This looks fantastic. Now I crave popcorns, it’s been a while since I had them. Your food styling is topnotch! Love your art!
Thanks Shinee! I eat popcorn WAY too often. 🙂 Love it!
Wow, I do this and your spray technique as well. I love savory, spiced popcorn as a snack, it’s the best. My favorite is Bob’s Big Boy Seasoning. It has curry and celery salt in the mix and I have yet to replicate so I order it online.
As for your lunch, isn’t Amanda the sweetest? Our online interactions have always been so nice. And she is so talented not only as a cook, but her photography is wow, as is yours. I thank the internet for allowing us all to get to know each other from thousands of miles away!
Ooh – Bob’s Big Boy Seasoning? I must pick some up when I’m I come over! Yes, Amanda is the best! 🙂