Curry Pumpkin Seeds

Curry Pumpkin Seeds

We carved our pumpkin last week and saved the seeds to make a tasty Halloween snack- Curry pumpkin seeds. This recipe is quick and easy, not to mention healthy. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc, which is knows to help ward off cold and flu symptoms.

Roasting pumpkin seeds is super easy. The only annoying part of this recipe is cleaning and separating the pumpkin seeds from the guts. However, if you have little ones around they will love to help you scoop out the pumpkins and clean the seeds.

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How to Clean and Prep Pumpkin Seeds

Cut the top off your pumpkin and use a strong large metal spoon to scoop the seeds and pumpkin innards out.

Pick out the seeds that you can and put the rest of the pumpkin guts into a bowl of cold water. Swish it around and the seeds will float to the top.

Scoop the loose seeds off the top of the water with your fingers and put them in a colander. Rinse the seeds well under cool running water. The seeds will stay a little “slimy” feeling – this doesn't mean they aren't clean! Spread the cleaned pumpkin seeds out on a sheet of parchment paper to dry.

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Ingredients for Curry Pumpkin Seeds

• 2 cups Pumpkin seeds
• 2 tablespoon Coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon Curry powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Pepper

Buy Curry Powder on Amazon

Instructions for Curry Pumpkin Seeds

Clean off the pumpkin seeds as best you can. Try to get all the pumpkin guts off of them. Pat down with paper towel or a cloth to get rid of the excess moisture.

In a bowl melt a few teaspoons of coconut oil. Coconut oil is a solid at room temperature but it will melt quickly after a few seconds in the microwave.

Stir the pumpkin seeds into the coconut oil. Add about a teaspoon of curry powder and a good sprinkling of salt and pepper.

Lay flat out on a baking sheet and cook at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them to make sure they do not burn.

Let them cool and garnish with more spices if you like.

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Can I eat pumpkin seeds raw?

You can eat pumpkin seeds raw or cooked, depending on your preference. If you eat them raw, eat them with the shell or break it off with your teeth and spit it out like you would with a sunflower seed.

Can I eat pumpkin seed shells?

Some pumpkin varieties produce seeds without shells, most pumpkin seeds are encased in a cream-colored shell, or hull, that is just as edible as the kernel it protects.

Can you eat pumpkin guts?

Guts from a pie or sugar pumpkins are ideal as they are sweeter and have more flavor than those extra-large jack-o'-lantern pumpkins you can pick up at the grocery store. Those pumpkins are grown to be carved and not really eaten. Although they are completely edible, the flesh tends to be grainy and watery.

What is the difference between pumpkin seeds and pepitas?

Technically, pepitas and pumpkin seeds are the same thing. But pepitas (which mean “little seeds of squash” in Spanish) don't have a shell and are found in only select pumpkin varieties.

How do you remove the hull from the pumpkin seed?

Use a rolling pin to crack the clean dry seeds, then boiling for 30 minutes so the pepitas are released from the hulls. Skim the empty hulls out of the water, then drain the water off of the pepitas and pat dry. Now you can eat the pepitas as is, or roast and flavor them.

What's your favorite way to roast pumpkin seeds?