When you\’re finished with your delicious pumpkin you will likely find yourself wondering what to do with pumpkin seeds. A natural byproduct of pumpkin carving or recipes, many people throw pumpkin seeds out – a big mistake! Pumpkin seeds can be used in so many ways. Here are a few ideas to try this season.
What to Do With Pumpkin Seeds
Roast the pumpkin seeds
One of the most common things people do with pumpkin seeds is roast them. You can choose whether you’d like to make them sweet or savoury – either way, they become a delicious crispy treat! Here’s a simple recipe to try:
Ingredients:
- Pumpkin seeds
- Olive oil
- Salt
Method:
- Thoroughly rinse and clean the pumpkin seeds, removing any pulp
- Boil 2 cups of water, then add the pumpkin seeds and 2 tsp of salt
- Simmer for 5 minutes
- Drain and pat the seeds dry
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F
- On a baking sheet, toss the seeds with about 2 tsp of oil, adding salt or any other spices you like
- Bake for 10 to 25 minutes, depending on how many seeds you have. Stir at least once
Make granola
Who doesn’t love a nice crunchy granola to snack on or enjoy at breakfast time? Here’s an easy recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1C pumpkin seeds
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, softened
- ½ tsp each: cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp salt
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F
- Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper
- In a bowl, mix all ingredients
- Evenly spread the mixture on the baking sheet
- Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes
Make pumpkin seed butter
If you have a high-speed blender, make your own pumpkin seed butter. Here’s how:
Ingredients:
- 2 C pumpkin seeds
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp salt
Method:
- Roast the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet for 15 minutes at 300 degrees F
- Add the pumpkin seeds to a blender or food processor
- Pulse a few times before running continuously
- Stop to stir and scrape the sides down as needed
- After 5 minutes, it will become a paste. At 15 or 20 minutes it will become a smooth seed butter.
- Once smooth, add salt and oil and blend until combined
Create a creamy dressing
Pumpkin seeds make a great base for any creamy sauce. Add the following dressing to your favourite salad or roasted veggies:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup water
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
- Toast seeds in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat for a few minutes
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth – this works best with a high powered blender
If none of these recipes tickles your fancy, you could always try planing them to grow your own. Otherwise, now that you know what to do with pumpkin seeds, it’s time to get in the kitchen and get creative! Be sure to tag me on Instagram if you make any of the recipes above – I’d love to see your creations. For more fun cooking DIYs that avoid you wasting product, check out my blog on how to freeze herbs.
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