Pumpkin to Table: 16 Ways to Eat Your Seeds
Celebrate pumpkin season with these delicious recipes.
When it comes time to carve your pumpkins, I beg you not to make the worst mistake of the season. Don’t throw away those precious pumpkin seeds! Dig your hands into the pumpkin glop, my friends, and salvage those gems. They may be small, but they pack a powerful, nutritious punch. Filled with calcium, potassium, zinc, manganese and other vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and fiber, pumpkin seeds can aid in the prevention of osteoporosis, kidney stones and some types of cancer. See? Totally worth getting your hands a little gooey!
The best part about pumpkin seeds is how downright delicious they are when prepped the right way or paired with the right foods. I’ve rounded up 16 ways to eat your seeds to please every palate. Whether you want to incorporate them into your dinner spread or sip them up, I’ve got the recipe for you.
Eat 'Em Straight-Up:
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
With six different spice mixes to choose from, these roasted pumpkin seeds can be tailored to fit your mood. Try mixing half your seeds in a savory mix and the other half in a sweet mix.
Incorporate Them Into Your Breakfast:
Acai Breakfast Bowl
Acai Breakfast Bowl
Serve Mom a delicious and nutritious breakfast this Mother's Day with bowl of fresh fruit and other super foods.
Jump-start your day with an energy-packed acai bowl. The seeds help make the delicious, crunchy topping.
Make It: Acai Breakfast Bowl
Orange and Pepita Granola
Heather Crosby
A nutritious but delicious take on cereal? I’m all in.
Make It: Orange and Pepita Granola
Work Them Into Your Afternoon Snack:
Homemade Trail Mix
Photo by Mick Telkamp
Make your own trail mix, and throw in as many handfuls of pumpkin seeds as you’d like.
Make It: Trail Mix
Fruit, Nut and Seed Bars
Stay fueled on the go with these healthy fruit, nut and seed bars.
Make It: Fruit, Nut and Seed Bars
Throw Them in the Dinner Mix:
Southwestern-Style Poblano Cornbread Stuffing
Pumpkin seeds, sweet potatoes and poblano peppers make this homemade stuffing sing.
Roasted Butternut Squash With Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Toasted seeds give this healthy fall food a crunchy twist.
Kale Salad
Image courtesy of Posana
A crunchy, tangy take on the trendy kale salad, this recipe is sure to impress guests.
Make It: Manchego Kale
Drink Them:
Non-Dairy Pumpkin Seed Milk
Heather Crosby
This milk alternative is a healer for digestive ailments.
Make It: Non-Dairy Pumpkin Seed Milk
Pumpkin Shooter
Beryl Cohen
Take your fall party up a notch with these savory shooters.
Make It: Pumpkin Shooter
Let Them Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth:
Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Photo by Mick Telkamp
This festive brittle would make the perfect treat to share with family and friends.
Make It: Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Or, If Pumpkin Seed Recipes Aren’t Your Thing...
Consider saving those seeds for planting next spring. Simply rinse off all the pulp, and lay them on a screen to dry. Store them in an envelope in a cool, dark but ventilated area, or store them in a jar with an anti-desiccant.
