Most people who carve pumpkins throw the seeds away. However, there’s a better option. Save them so that you can make delicious sweet and savory treats. Not only are they delicious but also healthy. Even better, this is something that both adults and kids love to snack on. They’re also great for parties.
Washing and Drying the Seeds
Regardless of which recipe you use to make sweet and savory pumpkin seeds, the first step is to roast them. However, for the best flavor, it’s important to do this correctly. So, instead of tossing the seeds in the garbage, you’ll need to take the seeds out of the center. The best method involves using a large metal spoon to scoop them out. From there, you’ll remove any fiber clinging to the seeds.
Next, place the pumpkin seeds into a colander. While washing them with plain water, remove the fibers or strings. Once that’s done, you need to dry the seeds. For this, place them in between two hand towels or paper towels. If you use hand towels, remember that they could get stained with a little bit of leftover orange color. The goal is to thoroughly dry the seeds to ensure their crispiness.
Roasting Pumpkin Seed
Once the seeds dry, the fun part starts. This is when you can season them according to your liking. For some people, sprinkling them with olive oil and a little bit of salt does the trick. However, others prefer something more robust. Great options include drizzling on a small amount of olive oil, followed by paprika, garlic powder, and even black pepper.
A Delicious Recipe
Here’s a recipe that your entire family will love. It’s for cinnamon sugar roasted pumpkin seeds.
- 3 cups pumpkin seeds (washed and dried for a minimum of 24 hours)
- 3 tablespoons melted butter or coconut oil (the latter is the best)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the dry pumpkin seeds in a bowl. Then, drizzle them with butter or coconut oil. Use a spoon to ensure they’re coated evenly. In a separate bowl, mix all the remaining ingredients. Pour those ingredients into the bowl with the seeds and mix well. You’ll then spread the seeds out evenly on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake them for between 25 and 35 minutes, stirring them every five minutes. Just be careful not to overcook them.
The pumpkin seeds can become soft after a few days. No problem. Again, spread them on a baking sheet, but this time, roast them for 10 minutes in a 250-degree oven.
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Delicious, Healthy, and Diverse
In addition to tasting yummy, roasted pumpkin seeds are healthy and diverse. Sure, they’re great to eat as a snack, but you can also sprinkle them on homemade cinnamon rolls, add them to hot oatmeal, and use them in sweet pumpkin bread.
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