How to Season Pumpkin Seeds

There are many delicious ways to season pumpkin seeds. With their subtle sweetness and nutty taste, pumpkin seeds are one of the most nutritious of all the seeds. They are great added to sautéed vegetables, salads or cereal. Mix them into ground beef before you make hamburgers, or just season and toast them for a wonderful, healthy treat.

Things You'll Need

• Pumpkin seeds
• Bowl
• Water
• Vegetable oil or melted butter
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Seasonings if desired
• Baking pan or cookie sheet

Instructions

1. Wash the pumpkin seeds, making sure to remove any of the pumpkin flesh that's left on the seeds.

2. Place the pumpkin seeds in a bowl and toss with any special seasoning if desired. For a sweet, salty tasting pumpkin seed, mix sugar with the salt. If you prefer spicy pumpkin seeds, mix garlic powder and cayenne pepper together. Other seasoning suggestions include using cheesy popcorn seasoning, taco seasoning or a Cajun seasoning mix. Season to taste, and check out more ideas in Tips blow.

3. Apply a light coating of vegetable oil or melted butter to a baking pan or cookie sheet.

4. Spread the pumpkin seeds out in a single layer on the baking pan. The seeds cook better if they do not touch each other.

5. Drizzle the seeds lightly with olive oil.

6. Sprinkle salt onto the oil coated pumpkin seeds.

7. Place the baking sheet in 250 to 300 degree F oven for about 40 minutes, making sure to stir the pumpkin seeds every 10 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Use any seasoning or combination of seasonings that you like to season pumpkins seeds.

• If you like your pumpkin seeds very salty, boil them in salted water and then let them sit in the water until they have cooled. Let them dry thoroughly before baking.

• You can use canola, peanut or sesame oil to coat the pan and drizzle over the pumpkin seeds if you don't have olive oil.

• Many people prefer to use only salt when toasting their pumpkin seeds.

• Be aware that butter burns quickly and must be kept at a low temperature.

Resources

• Learn about the nutritional value of pumpkin seeds.