How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds at Home
One of the most fun parts about fall besides dressing up for Halloween is carving a pumpkin into a cute or spooky jack-o-lantern. Sometimes, though, the pumpkin seeds are forgotten. You can turn them into a perfect snack by simply seasoning and roasting them for a few minutes. If you scoop out the seeds at the beginning of carving, they'll be done just in time for you and your family to put the finishing touches on your pumpkin masterpieces. Lightly salted pumpkin seeds provide such a satisfying crunch. You can drizzle them in butter and sprinkle with salt, or go for an unexpected flavor palate by coating the pumpkin seeds in truffle oil and fresh chive.
The possibilities with pumpkin seeds are almost endless. Using a combination of sweet and spicy ingredients, these roasted pumpkin seeds will satisfy your whole family. Pumpkins make great decorations and desserts, but don't forget about how yummy their seeds are! Follow the steps below to enjoy a bowl of light and crunchy pumpkin seeds.
Instructions
Cleaning the Pumpkin Seeds
-
Pick your pumpkin. You can use the seeds from small baking pumpkins or a large carving pumpkin. A large pumpkin will have about one cup of seeds in it.
-
Cut the top off of the pumpkin to remove the seeds. If not carving the pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern, you can cut the pumpkins into smaller sections to make the process easier. Squeeze the seeds off of the stringy fibers for quick removal.
-
Place the seeds in a colander and rinse with cold water. Stir the seeds to separate them from the fibers. You can also put them in a bowl of cold water and stir. The clean seeds will float to the top.
-
Optional: soak the seeds in salt water for 8-48 hours. Sometimes pumpkin seeds can be harsh on the stomach, and the salt water soak helps break down the enzymes that cause irritation. If you choose to do this step, fill a large bowl 2/3 of the way full with water. Sprinkle the salt in until the water is saturated, and then let the seeks soak.
-
Thoroughly dry the seeds.
Cooking Pumpkin Seeds
-
Heat the oven to 325° F.
-
Season the seeds with salt or your favorite combination of spices.
-
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil on a baking sheet and spread the pumpkin seeds out on top. Make sure they're only in one layer.
-
Depending on the size of the seeds, bake for 15-20 minutes. Open the oven and shake the pan every 5-10 minutes so that they don't burn.
-
Set the pumpkin seeds aside to cool completely, and then enjoy!
Read NextDo You Peel Zucchini?
Your Recently Viewed Recipes
Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!
bambakes7
Oct 27, 2017
I typically put salt and pepper on my pumpkin seeds, but I recently tried Mediterranean-flavored pumpkin seeds, and they were delicious!
ashleroo
Apr 23, 2017
Making roasted pumpkin seeds is one of my family's favourite fall traditions. It is really fun to do with small kids as they get to eat their creation! It's really nice to split the batch and put different spices on them to switch it up. I like salt and garlic poweder. Sometimes I like using something sweeter like cinnamon. You can also use those fun popcorn spice flavours to make really delicious seeds! Have fun with it. They are delicious!
sweetrose46 250009 8
Sep 21, 2016
Thank you so much for this recipe. I am going to try this when I buy my pumpkin. I already have some ideas like garlic and onion powder,
Report Inappropriate Comment
Are you sure you would like to report this comment? It will be flagged for our moderators to take action.
Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site.
