Ranch Pumpkin Seeds | Swanky Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with pumpkin seeds? ›

Soak Them Overnight in Salt Water

But this step is the most important. Pumpkin seeds are covered in a thin membrane. The enzymes in the membrane are difficult to chew and digest, which is why you want to soak the seeds for 12-24 hours. For every 1 cup of seeds add: [2 cups of water + 1/2 Tablespoon salt.]

You can eat them raw as well as roasted, safely. It is best to eat them without the shell for easy digestion. Generally, people prefer to consume them in the roasted form. You may dry roast them at a low temperature under 170°F or 76°C without adding any oil and without salt to retain the nutritional value.

If, after checking, your seeds still look and smell fresh, then they are likely safe to eat.

Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, can be consumed with or without their shells. Once you've scooped them out of the pumpkin, it's advisable to soak them in water for a few hours to help remove the pulp from the shells.

After cleaning your fresh pumpkin seeds, soak them in a bowl of water with one tablespoon of salt overnight at room temperature. This process will help soften the seeds making them easier to digest.

Should You Boil Pumpkin Seeds Before Roasting? Although you don't have to boil the pumpkin seeds before roasting, we recommend it. Boiling pumpkin seeds in salted water helps the salt to permeate the seeds inside the shells and helps them to cook more evenly.

Drying the seeds before roasting ensures they can be evenly coated in oil, for a perfectly toasted texture.

Many people scoop out the whole seeds and roast them — shell and all — as a snack. However, those sold in grocery stores are typically shelled. That's why commercial varieties are a different color, size, and shape than ones you might prepare at home. Even so, pumpkin seed shells are safe for most people to eat.

If you've tried and enjoyed roasted pumpkin seeds, then you'll be happy to know that this seed can also be enjoyed raw. Raw, roasted, or sprouted pumpkin seeds make an excellent addition to your favorite recipes and provide several health benefits.

Can you take seeds from a pumpkin and plant them? ›

If you want to save seeds from a fresh pumpkin to plant, clean off all the pulp. Rinse off the seeds then air dry them on a paper towel. Plant when they're dry or store them in a paper envelope until you're ready to plant them.

Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and minerals. Possible benefits of eating pumpkin seeds include boosting bone health, sexual wellbeing, and the immune system. People often refer to pumpkin seeds as “pepitas,” which is Spanish for “l*ttle seed of squash.”

Place the rinsed seeds on a dry paper towel. Make sure they are spaced out; otherwise, the seeds will stick to one another. Place in a cool dry spot for one week. Once the seeds are dry, store pumpkin seed for planting in an envelope.