A brisk Saturday morning spent meandering through the local pumpkin patch has yielded that perfect orb of orange goodness. You’ve sliced and scooped, carved and created. Now, you can sit back, candles glowing, and enjoy your creepy concoction. Jack o’ lanterns are as much a part of the Halloween landscape as black cats and ghostly figures. But don’t let those potentially delicious innards go to waste! Save your pumpkin seeds for these ghoulishly great snack ideas.
Both the white outer hull and the green seed of the pumpkin are edible. The simplest way to prepare pumpkin seeds you’ve liberated is by roasting them. The first step is to separate the seeds from the pulp. Have the kids tackle the stringy goo while you gather your ingredients and preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Rinse the seeds in a colander under cold water, then shake them dry in the strainer. Don’t try to blot them, they’ll just stick to your paper (or cloth) towels.
Spread the seeds in an even layer on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake the seeds for 30 minutes to thoroughly dry them. Next, place the seeds in a bowl and toss with olive oil and your choice of spices, then give them a second roast for about 20 minutes until crisp and golden. Some flavor suggestions:
- toss with cinnamon and sugar for a sweet and crunchy snack
- try salt and smoked paprika, adding slivered almonds after the second roast
grated parmesan, salt, and dried oregano for an Italian twist- salt and garam masala, adding currants after the second roast for a taste of India
- brown sugar, chipotle chili powder, and ground cumin will give a zesty barbeque flavor
- or keep it simple with just salt and olive oil
Another quick and simple idea is to replace peanuts with pumpkin seeds in your favorite brittle recipe for pumpkin brittle. Sprinkled on a salad or just munched straight from the bowl, pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack filled with fiber and protein.
Images via cursedthing, justgrimes
