Free Low Calorie Recipes

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

By Sara Gray

Halloween is upon us and with that comes pumpkins and with pumpkins comes roasted pumpkin seeds! So, how do you roast pumpkin seeds and make them taste great?

Besides giving you a basic recipe, I'll also give you some great tips to guarantee a flavorful and healthy treat. Kids like them too!

Basic Recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds:

What you'll need:

• Seeds from a recently carved pumpkin
• 1 Tbsp. of butter (melted)
• Salt or Garlic salt to taste

Easy as 1-2-3...

Once you've carved your pumpkins, don't throw the gook away that you pull out of them. Separate the seeds from the pulp and set aside. Rinse the seeds in a colander and spread out on a flat surface to dry for 24 hours.

Tip: Drying the seeds overnight helps with the roasting. For some reason, I've found that the pumpkin seeds just roast better when they've been thoroughly dried. Also, drying the seeds help you to separate out any remaining pulp. At this point, it's easy to do.

Pre-heat your oven to 300 degrees F.

Put your dried seeds in a bowl and pour the melted butter over them. Mix thoroughly. Salt the seeds to taste.

Now, take the seeds and spread them out on a cookie sheet, one layer thick. Place the pumpkin seeds in the oven and roast them for 45 minutes or until they turn golden brown and are crunchy.

Let the seeds cool for at least five minutes before you start nibbling. Then, put them in your scariest Halloween bowl and let the goblins munch. They will be gone before you know it. And if you do have left overs, simply store them in an airtight container.

Some additional things to do with roasted pumpkin seeds:

• Use them as a salad topping.
• Do you like peanut brittle? Try substituting roasted pumpkin seeds for the peanuts in your favorite brittle recipe.
• Instead of using salt, try using a sugar-cinnamon mixture to toss them with. They make a sweet treat!

Enjoy and have a happy and safe Halloween!