Popcorn with Brown Butter, Rosemary, and Lemon
January 29, 2010 by Andrea 
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Filed under Appetizers, Grow Your Own
Popcorn has always been one of my favorite snacks, and as a child I got excited when my dad brought out the vintage hammered Club Aluminum pot and poured in some kernels. Sometimes we had butter on top, but mostly we ate it with a simple sprinkling of salt or occasionally seasoned salt. I don’t think my parents have that old pot anymore, but as I reminisce about all the popcorn we ate together, I wish they still had it.
Now that I have children of my own we make popcorn on the weekends or as an after school snack and sprinkle on all sorts of flavors. Michael likes popcorn spiced up with chili powder or Cajun seasoning, and I like garlic salt. I thought this popcorn from Michael Chiarello would be a tasty way to dress up our favorite healthy snack. The browned butter lends a certain richness while the lemon and our homegrown rosemary brighten the flavor.
Our potted rosemary plants have survived the winter so far, a pleasant surprise after they were buried under 18 inches of snow for a few weeks. The leaves turned a dark shade of red but still have that intoxicating aroma. We decided if they could survive the winter in pots, then we’ll plant them in the spring in a spot out in the garden we’ve already chosen just for them. And if we are really lucky, they might grow into a rosemary hedge.
This is my contribution to Grow Your Own, a blogging event that celebrates the dishes we create from foods we’ve grown, raised, foraged, or hunted ourselves. Nate and Annie of House of Annie have graciously volunteered to help out with Grow Your Own while we tend to some family matters this winter, and they are our hosts for this round, so be sure to visit their blog for more information about submitting your post. If you are new to the event, you can read more about the rules for participating at the Grow Your Own page.
Update: Nate and Annie posted the Grow Your Own roundup. Be sure to check out the 61 fantastic posts!
POPCORN WITH BROWN BUTTER, ROSEMARY, AND LEMON
Adapted from Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello.
Makes about 4 cups.
Equipment
4-quart heavy bottom pan with lid
medium sauté pan
large bowl
Ingredients
1 cup (~210 g) popcorn kernels (Weight can vary depending on the type of popcorn used.)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary leaves
salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
Preparation
1. Heat the olive oil in the heavy bottomed pot over medium-high heat and add the popcorn kernels. When the popcorns starts to pop, cover the pot tightly and continue to cook until all the popcorn pops, about 2 to 3 minutes, shaking the pot occasionally. Pour the popcorn into the large bowl.
2. While the popcorn pops, melt the butter in the sauté pan over medium-high heat until it is brown, shaking the pan occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the rosemary to the butter and let it sit for a minute or two to infuse the butter with flavor, then pour the butter mixture over the popcorn. Toss well. Add the salt and pepper and lemon zest and toss well.
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There is no substitute for popcorn, under any circumstances! It is the end all and be all, the Alpha and Omego, the snick and, of course, THE snack. Will definitely try this recipe. Gonna be snowed in this weekend and will need some comfort food! Thank you for sharing!
That’s kinda neat how the leaves turned purplish. At least it’s still alive!
We used to make popcorn in our wok and sprinkle some li hing powder on it, as well as furikake. Here in Malaysia, it’s hard to find any bottled popping corn – if anything, it’s that fake-butter, microwave stuff. Bleah!
I like the idea of cooking it in a wok, never thought of that! Now need to find a domed lid for my 12-inch wok.
I love the lemon and rosemary touch!
Yum! I happen to have some homegrown lemons as well as homegrown rosemary on hand. I’ll have to give this popcorn recipe a try! Thanks