How To Roast Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins are the main ingredient in many recipes like the pumpkin soup or the pumpkin pie. They are also carved out to make jack-o'-lanterns during fall. You should save up all the pumpkin seeds whenever you use a pumpkin. Then you will have enough seeds to make a healthy and tasty snack by roasting them after adding some spices.
Tools And Ingredients You Will Require
- An oven for roasting the seeds
- A colander or strainer for washing the seeds
- A clean towel to lay the seeds on
- A cookie sheet
- Melted butter or oil
- Spices like paprika, pepper, garlic, and salt
Cleaning The Seeds
To clean out the seeds from the pumpkin, you have to scoop the pulp out of the pumpkin. Place this pulp in a colander, and hold under running water. Now separate the seeds from the strings and pulp with your fingers. Set the cleaned seeds on a dry kitchen towel and pat dry.
Preparing The Seeds
Let the pumpkin seeds stand for a while. Dry them out completely before you start adding the seasoning to roast them.
Roasting The Seeds
Mix the butter or oil, whichever you are using, with the salt and other spices of your choice, like garlic, pepper, paprika, etc. Coat the seeds well with this mixture before spreading them out evenly on the cookie sheet. The baking time for pumpkin seeds is about 30 to 40 minutes. Keep turning them around while they are roasting so that the roasting is even on all sides. Put on paper towels and allow to cool. Your roasted pumpkin seeds are ready to snack on.
Buying The Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are available right through fall and winter and during late summer. The seeds are readily available in supermarkets, food stores, and health stores. They are either raw, roasted, shelled, or with the shell. In Spanish the seeds are called pepitas. You could add the roasted pumpkin seeds to salads, casseroles, and soups.
Storing The Seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain oil, which could turn rancid if left outside. So, it is safer to put them in sealed plastic covers and refrigerate them. This will give them a longer shelf life.
Nutritional Value
The roasted pumpkin seeds are not just a tasty snack, but are also packed with nutrients. Pumpkin seeds have niacin, folate, selenium, zinc, potassium, calcium, amino acids, phosphorous, manganese, magnesium, copper, iron, fiber, and protein.
Medicinal Value
Pumpkin seeds have been the subject of various studies investigating their health-promoting and medicinal values. Pumpkin seeds were used in folk medicine long before their medicinal value was scientifically established. The initial studies have shown that pumpkin seeds reduce the risk of prostrate cancer because they control hormonal damage to the prostrate cells. These seeds are used in treating infections in the urinary tract and are also used as remedies for dyslexia and depression.
