15 New Ways to Spice Up Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
If you plan on getting down and dirty by carving a pumpkin this weekend for Halloween, don't toss the guts, you'll be throwing out the best part!
Roasted pumpkin seeds make diving into that sticky mess worth it, not to mention they're packed with magnesium and protein, making them a super healthy snack. While you may think you're limited to a high salt intake with an au naturale flavoring of sea salt, think again -- there are plenty of flavor combos sure to tickle every tastebud.
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First step is to wash them in a collander to get rid of all added gunk. Coat them in melted butter and mix them with your favorite flavors (plenty to choose from below) and place them on a baking sheet in a single layer, baking at 350-degrees. After about ten minutes, flip them, and roast for another ten. Let them cool, and enjoy with your favorite scary flick. Now for the fun part -- the flavors!
1. Italian: Italian seasoning blend, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. Perfetto!
2. Ragin' Cajun: Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper (add a sprinkle of Tobasco if you like it extra hot -- you know you do).
3. Cocoa: Sprinkle with cocoa powder and sugar for a sweet treat.
4. Greek: Lemon pepper seasoning blend, oregano, salt, and olive oil for those big fat Greek families.
5. Get Curried Away: For every cup, mix 2 tsp. curry powder, and 1/2 tsp. of salt.
6. Honey Mustard: Toss each cup of roasted pumpkin seeds in a mixture of 1 tsp. brown spicy mustard and 2 tsp. honey.
7. Fall Delight: Cinnamon, brown sugar, white sugar, dash of salt.
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8. Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin pie pumpkin seeds (try to wrap your head around that one) consists of cinnamon, ground ginger and pinch of nutmeg.
9. Anti-Vampire: This garlic powder and salt mix will keep the vamps at bay.
10. Chai: Just toss in macha powder. Then take it to your yoga class.
11. Sugar-n-Spice: Cayenne pepper, sugar, and splash of salt.
12. Spicy Gourmet: Olive oil, seasoning, chili pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce.
13. Oriental: For each cup of roasted pumpkin seeds, toss in a mixture of 1/4 tsp. orange extract, 1/2 tsp. soy sauce and 2 tsp. honey.
14. Lemony Fresh: Lemon pepper -- zing!
15. Tea-licious: Grind tea of choice (black works well) with a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and sprinkle over au naturale seeds after baking.
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Do you save the seeds after carving a pumpkin? Have you tried any of these? What are your favorite flavors for pumpkin seeds?
Image via _rockinfree/Flickr
Written by Brittny Drye for CafeMom's blog, The Stir.
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