If you're looking for a tasty and healthy snack, pumpkin seeds are a great option. Not only are they packed with nutrients, but they're also relatively easy to prepare. Here's a quick guide on how to prepare pumpkin seeds.
Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds
A ¼ cup serving of pumpkin seeds contains just 180 calories and is loaded with copper, healthy fats, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, protein, zinc, and much more.
Collectively, these nutrients boost your health in multiple ways which include:
- Acting as antioxidants and preventing oxidative damage in your cells
- Improving insulin sensitivity in diabetics
- Lowering blood pressure
- Minimizing inflammation within your body
- Preventing cancer
- Supporting the growth, maintenance, and repair of all your body’s cells
How To Prepare Pumpkin Seeds
The first step is to remove the seeds from the pumpkin. If you're working with a raw pumpkin, this can be a bit of a messy task. However, it's worth taking the time to do it right in order to avoid damaging the seeds. Once the seeds are out, give them a good rinse under cool water.
Next, it's time to dry the seeds. You can spread them out on a towel or cookie sheet, so you can let them air dry.
Sugar Pumpkins
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 medium Pumpkin
- 1 tbsp Olive oil or butter
- 1 tbsp Salt
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Preheat over to 275 degrees. Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.
- In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water. Use about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a tablespoon of salt for every cup of water. Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain and let dry.
- Spread about a tablespoon of olive oil over the bottom of a cookie sheet. Spread the seeds out over the cookie sheet. Spread the seeds out over the cookie sheet, all in one layer.Bake at 275 degrees for 45 minutes. Then turn heat up to 350 for another 7-10 minutes or until the seeds are browned to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating. Either crack to remove the inner seed ( a lot of unnecessary work) or eat the whole (which is the way most people enjoy them).
Pumpkin Seeds Are Versatile
Another great way to make pumpkin seeds is to use them as a crust or coating.
- Roast ½ cup pumpkin seeds with 4 clove garlic
- Process and add T. oil and 2T bread crumbs.
- Use for fish, chicken, lamb etc.
Pumpkin seeds are packed full of nutrients, highly versatile, and make an excellent snack. If you’re serious about improving your diet they’re definitely something you should be eating more of.
Stock up on pumpkin seeds then whenever you feel hungry between meals, grab a handful and enjoy all their nutritional goodness.
Whichever way you decide how to make pumpkin seeds, enjoy them!
