Ever taken the time to roast pumpkin seeds? It’s an easy way to make a fun snack and use up part of the pumpkin that sometimes can go to waste. Whether you are making your own pumpkin puree, carving pumpkins, or just like DIY snacks, roasted pumpkin seeds are an easy and quick way to use more of your own homegrown produce.
Roast Pumpkin Seeds For Fun
This is definitely one of those projects that is more about having fun than saving a ton of money. However, if you are a really big fan of pumpkin seeds and eat a lot of other pumpkin-based foods, it may be an effective way to stretch your harvest.
I like to roast pumpkin seeds when my kids are carving pumpkins for Halloween. It’s a fun bonus project that we get to eat. But if you love making your own pumpkin puree, it’s a good way to use the seeds from that too.
How To Roast Your Own Pumpkin Seeds
First you cut the top off your pumpkin and scoop out the stringy insides along with all the seeds.
Separate the seeds from the goop by adding water into your bowl. The seeds will float to the top. You can swish them around to clean them.
Next, scoop the seeds out of the water with a slotted spoon or other similar tool. I have a kefir strainer that would excel at this job, but we weren’t making that much this day. Put them on paper towels or a dish cloth to dry. You can pat them dry if you want it to go faster. At this point you could let them completely air dry and then store them in an envelope to be planted in the garden again. Or you can keep going and eat them. Or both!
Move your seeds into a bowl and add oil, salt, and flavoring. Use a teaspoon of oil, and a half teaspoon of salt for each cup of pumpkin seeds. I like adding paprika. About 1 teaspoon per cup of seeds is very flavorful. You can add other flavorings (garlic is nice too!) or just stick with oil and salt.
Preheat your oven to 350, and spread your pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake them for 15-25 minutes, but check them every 5 minutes because they can go to over-roasted incredibly quickly.
Put your crunchy new snack into a bowl! You can eat them hot, or let them cool down and move them into air-tight storage. Fun!
What’s your favorite seasoning mix for roasted pumpkin seeds? Share in the comments!
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