Image by WordRidden via Flickr

I’ve always loved Halloween, and it just isn’t Halloween without roasted pumpkin seeds. There are many different ways to cook pumpkin seeds.

My favorite, and probably the easiest way is via microwave.

Pumpkin Seed Preparation:

Clean the pumpkin seeds by running them under water for about 10-15 seconds.

If you like your pumpkin seeds to have a stronger saltier flavor, it is best to boil the pumpkin seeds in salted water, and let simmer for 10 minutes.

If you want to eat pumpkin seeds shell and all, Simply Recipes recommends using sugar pumpkins, instead of the larger carving pumpkins.

Pumpkin Seed Cooking Methods:

Oven roasted pumpkin seeds:

1. Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Toss the pumpkin seeds in a bowl with olive oil, butter, or margin. For a low-fat version, skip the oil and butter, and just use cooking spray on the baking pan.
3. Place pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oven safe dish or baking pan.
4. Lightly sprinkle salt over the pumpkin seeds.
5. Bake pumpkin seeds for 30-40 minutes, or until they begin to turn brown. Stir every 10 minutes or so.

Variations:

There are many ways to change it up, and add some additional flavor to your pumpkin seeds. One pumpkin seed recipe calls for Worcestershire sauce and garlic salt. Another pumpkin seed recipe calls for cumen, ginger, sugar, and cayenne pepper. Yet another pumpkin seed recipe calls for Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and hot pepper sauce.

You can also make your own recipe by adding: Maple syrup, curry powder, cinnamon, honey, cinnamon and sugar, nutmeg, tabasco sauce, or any other number of variations.

Skillet Toasted Pumpkin Seeds:

1. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of butter, or cooking oil in a skillet, or frying pan on medium heat.
2. As oil becomes hot stir in cleansed pumpkin seeds.
3. Stir and flip as the pumpkin seeds cook, pumpkin seeds shouldn’t be cooked longer than 5 minutes.
4. When the seeds are nicely toasted and browned, remove them from the skillet. Place them on a paper towel to drain the oil.
5. Season or flavor your pumpkin seeds as desired.
6. Let cool for 5-10 minutes, and enjoy.

Microwaved Pumpkin Seeds:

1. Melt two tablespoons of butter in a microwave safe bowl(about 30 seconds).
2. Place a cup and a half of pumpkin seeds into the bowl, make sure they’re in a single layer.
3. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds with seasoning or flavoring as desired.
4. Set your microwave for 8 minutes.
5. Check pumpkin seeds every 2 minutes. Also stir every two minutes.
6. Keep an eye on the seeds, and when they are a golden brown remove them from the microwave, lay them out on a paper towel, or some wax paper.
7. Let cool for 5 minutes, and enjoy your delicious pumpkin treat.

Pumpkin seeds will generally keep for roughly a week or so. So you can enjoy them as a snack for a whole week. As a side note this is a good healthy frugal snack to make. You’re going to carve a pumpkin anyways, right? Why not use the seeds, and save some on your food and snack bill?

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