I’ll admit, reaching into the depths of a pumpkin to de-gut it is not my favorite thing to do. It’s slimy, it’s sticky, and it feels like one of those mystery boxes at haunted houses where you put your hands in and they tell you it’s a pile of brains.
But deep in the innards are the edible seeds of Cucurbita pepo, a family of squash that includes pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash, and zucchini. The seeds from all of these cucurbits are equally edible, but I tend to come across pumpkin seeds more often, since one carving pumpkin will yield at least a couple of cups. And if your whole house is sculpting and slicing up pumpkins, you’ll have enough seeds to do them up three different ways.
Once I got over the initial trepidation that a pumpkin could grow inside of me if I swallowed the seeds (a tale told to me by numerous adults when I was 5, tales that also included watermelon seeds and sunflower seeds), I grew to love toasted pumpkin seeds. Salt and butter were all that I needed (and is still a classic no-fail recipe in my book), but I also love to experiment with different seasonings.
Here are three of my favorite recipes — and favorite way to eat them? Handfuls at a time, washed down with a cold pumpkin ale!
I like to brine my seeds before toasting, though this step isn’t totally necessary if your pumpkin-carving party guests are anxious to indulge. I feel it gives the seeds a good crunch when they’re toasted and infuses them with a subtle salty flavor that serves as a nice base for other spices. The brine bath also removes the rest of the stringy guts from the seeds so you don’t have to rinse them before toasting.
Preparation for All Recipes Below
Remove as much of the pulp as possible from your pumpkin seeds. In a small saucepan, bring 3 cups water and 2 tablespoons fine-grained salt to a boil (a drizzle of oil also helps to prevent boil-over). Add 1 cup pumpkin seeds and boil for 10 minutes.
Strain the seeds and shake dry, then toast using one of the recipes below.
Garlic Pumpkin Seeds
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Method
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a medium-sized bowl, toss the pumpkin seeds with oil, Worcestershire, and garlic.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (not necessary, but helpful for scooping the seeds off later). Spread the seeds across the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the seeds are golden on all sides. Larger seeds take longer to toast and vice versa, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid burning. Generally, I know the seeds are properly toasted when I hear the shells start to pop.
Curried Pumpkin Seeds
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
2 teaspoons curry powder
Method
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a medium-sized bowl, toss the pumpkin seeds with oil and curry.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (not necessary, but helpful for scooping the seeds off later). Spread the seeds across the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the seeds are golden on all sides. Larger seeds take longer to toast and vice versa, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid burning. Generally, I know the seeds are properly toasted when I hear the shells start to pop.
Sweet ‘n Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Method
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a medium-sized bowl, toss the pumpkin seeds with oil and spices.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (not necessary, but helpful for scooping the seeds off later). Spread the seeds across the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the seeds are golden on all sides. Larger seeds take longer to toast and vice versa, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid burning. Generally, I know the seeds are properly toasted when I hear the shells start to pop.
30 Comments
El Greco Handmade Natural Cosm
May 3, 2017 at 2:34 pmnice website
Friv Jogos
November 4, 2013 at 1:59 amIt is not complicated, thank you for sharing this to us.
theGardenBetty
October 25, 2013 at 5:02 pmRT @cdnrockiesgirl One of my fav things about pumpkin carving! RT @theGardenBetty Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/qZJgXMrsH3
Carolyn Valdez
October 25, 2013 at 12:30 pmoh yum! I’m about to roast a pumpkin and usually just throw random spices together, but maybe I’ll try one of these!
theGardenBetty
October 24, 2013 at 9:01 pmFav way to eat them: handfuls at a time, washed down with pumpkin ale! Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/O9REB9qzs1 #recipe
mdg276
October 24, 2013 at 3:14 pmRT @theGardenBetty: Save the seeds from your pumpkin-carving party and make these: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/xDWC5X1Z…
DonnaSMenke
October 24, 2013 at 3:03 pmRT @theGardenBetty: Save the seeds from your pumpkin-carving party and make these: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/xDWC5X1Z…
theGardenBetty
October 24, 2013 at 3:02 pmSave the seeds from your pumpkin-carving party and make these: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/xDWC5X1ZSU #recipe
Babsi Schneider
October 24, 2013 at 12:08 pmBabsi Schneider liked this on Facebook.
theGardenBetty
October 24, 2013 at 9:05 amJazz them up with a blend of spices for every type of tastebud: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/tZJfoeunkZ #recipe
BuyDirectUSAN
October 23, 2013 at 8:07 pmRT @TuffGuardHose: Tis the season, “THREE WAYS TO TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS” garlic, curry, & sweet & spicy oh my! http://t.co/HfhOlSnlPr
theGardenBetty
October 23, 2013 at 6:02 pmSave the seeds and make this delicious snack: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/W2h78LQ4lx #halloween #recipe
Duke Chase Mosakowski
October 23, 2013 at 3:38 pmDuke Chase Mosakowski liked this on Facebook.
BuyAmerican_M
October 23, 2013 at 2:36 pmRT @TuffGuardHose: Tis the season, “THREE WAYS TO TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS” garlic, curry, & sweet & spicy oh my! http://t.co/HfhOlSnlPr
Randall S. Winkler
October 23, 2013 at 1:32 pmThey also sound good, I saved all the recipes and will try 🙂
Garden Betty
October 23, 2013 at 1:25 pmHonestly? The sweet ‘n spicy are my favorite. 🙂
USAChristmas
October 23, 2013 at 12:16 pmRT @TuffGuardHose: Tis the season, “THREE WAYS TO TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS” garlic, curry, & sweet & spicy oh my! http://t.co/HfhOlSnlPr
theGardenBetty
October 23, 2013 at 12:05 pmDon’t throw them out! Pop them in the oven for a tasty treat: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/A5qkhsQHlu #halloween #recipe
AmericanMadeB2B
October 23, 2013 at 12:04 pmRT @TuffGuardHose: Tis the season, “THREE WAYS TO TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS” garlic, curry, & sweet & spicy oh my! http://t.co/HfhOlSnlPr
cdnrockiesgirl
October 23, 2013 at 11:15 amOne of my fav things about pumpkin carving! RT @theGardenBetty: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/nu8OoPRoOX
MadeinAmericaG
October 23, 2013 at 10:27 amRT @TuffGuardHose: Tis the season, “THREE WAYS TO TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS” garlic, curry, & sweet & spicy oh my! http://t.co/HfhOlSnlPr
TuffGuardHose
October 23, 2013 at 10:11 amTis the season, “THREE WAYS TO TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS” garlic, curry, & sweet & spicy oh my! http://t.co/HfhOlSnlPr
Adriana Mitchell Powers
October 23, 2013 at 9:08 amAdriana Mitchell Powers liked this on Facebook.
Randall S. Winkler
October 23, 2013 at 7:29 amThe garlic and the curry recipes sound great, I will try, Thanks for sharing 🙂
Cary Bradley
October 23, 2013 at 7:08 amCary Bradley liked this on Facebook.
Thu TranLe
October 23, 2013 at 7:08 amThu TranLe liked this on Facebook.
LauraFCGO
October 23, 2013 at 6:24 amThese all sound yummy! I need to carve a pumpkin now. RT @theGardenBetty: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/bownLWWd88
Jonna Sullivan Tatum
October 23, 2013 at 6:23 amJonna Sullivan Tatum liked this on Facebook.
BG_garden
October 23, 2013 at 6:01 amThree Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds:
I’ll admit, reaching into the depths of a pumpkin to de-gut it is not my… http://t.co/5p5f7AVsu1
theGardenBetty
October 23, 2013 at 6:00 amBlogged on Garden Betty: Three Ways to Toasted Pumpkin Seeds http://t.co/qZJgXMrsH3