Making roasted pumpkin seeds (papitas) is one of the many fall traditions I enjoy. It's right up there with making a caramel apple bar. I'll show you how to season your pumpkin seeds in a variety of fun flavors, including za'atar-flavored pumpkin seeds, salted caramel pumpkin seeds, and chamoy-roasted pumpkin seeds!
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I love to make spicy roasted pumpkin seeds every Halloween. Every now and then, however, I come up with new flavors. For example, salted caramel pumpkin seeds. You didn't see that coming, did you?
If you prefer savory flavors, I've got a few other ideas for you to try: zaatar roasted pumpkin seeds and chamoy-flavored pumpkin seeds!
You have 4 delicious pumpkin seed flavors to choose from in one blog post! No matter what flavor you choose, they make an excellent addition to your fall charcuterie board or this easy Halloween charcuterie board.
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Plain or spicy roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) are delicious, but it's also fun to try different flavor ideas.
- If you're carving more than one pumpkin this Halloween, you can try all 4 flavors!
- Roasted pumpkin seeds are loaded with nutrition, and they make an excellent addition to a Halloween char-boo-terie board!
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
The ingredients you need to make roasted pumpkin seeds depend on the flavor or flavors you choose to try. Here are some of the ingredients you may need.
- Pumpkin Seeds: Raw pumpkin seeds from one or more fresh pumpkins
- Oil: Olive oil, avocado oil, butter, or coconut oil.
- Spices: Himalayan salt, cinnamon, zaatar, cardamom, cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, and sumac powder.
- Other Ingredients: Brown sugar and Chamoy.
🚿 How to clean pumpkin seeds
Once you scrape the seeds out of the pumpkin, place them and any fibers still attached inside a large bowl and cover the seeds with warm water.
Remove the seeds that float to the surface, then separate the seeds from the attached stringy fibers. Dry seeds on a kitchen towel before proceeding with the recipe, unless you're infusing the seeds with salt first.
🎃 How To Make Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 1: Remove seeds from the pumpkin and add to a bowl of water. Separating the seeds from the pulp. It's ok if not all the pulp comes off.
Step 2: Drain all the water, then pat dry the pumpkin seeds with a clean kitchen towel.
Step 3: Mix oil, lime juice, and spices. Toss with pumpkin seeds. Spread evenly on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Step 4: Bake until toasted, approximately 20 minutes. Stir halfway through.
Step 5: Remove from oven, cool slightly before serving.
Salted Caramel Pumpkin Seeds
Melt 1 tablespoon butter (or coconut oil) and mix with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon cardamom, and ¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt. Toss with one cup of pumpkin seeds.
Spread on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F.
Za'atar Pumpkin Seeds
Za'atar is a spice blend used in the Middle East to flavor grilled meats, dips, and Pita bread. You can purchase za'atar at any Middle Eastern market or make your own blend using my za'atar recipe.
Mix 1-½ teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon za'atar mix, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Toss the seasoning with one cup of pumpkin seeds.
Spread on a prepared pan and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 20 minutes at 350°F. Toss halfway through to cook evenly.
Chamoy-Flavored Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Mix 1-½ teaspoon olive oil with 1 teaspoon Chamoy Flavor Sauce. Next, add ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon cumin, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Mix the seasoning with the seeds until coated. Bake for 20 minutes at 350°F. Toss halfway through to cook evenly.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Add pumpkin seeds to salted water and simmer for 15 minutes. Next, drain, pat dry, and proceed with roasting.
No, you do not need to wash pumpkin seeds before you roast them; it comes down to a matter of preference.
Like most seeds, pumpkin seeds are an excellent snack option. Pumpkin seeds are quite nutritious and a great source of calcium and magnesium. Both calcium and magnesium help build strong bones.
According to a MedicalNewsToday article, they may also protect against Type 2 diabetes. This is due to the antioxidants found in pumpkin seeds.
The article also points out that pumpkin seeds aid heart and liver function due to their omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids, and fiber content. The fiber also aids in lowering cholesterol levels and promotes weight loss.
Yes, pumpkin seeds can be eaten shelled or with their shell.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- If you will be carving the pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern, begin by slicing the top off the pumpkin as you normally would. Otherwise, slice the pumpkin in half to access the pumpkin seeds more easily. A long serrated knife, or a large carving knife (from a carving kit) is the best option for the job.
- Using a large spoon, ice cream scoop, or carving spoon (from a carving kit) to scrape the inside of the pumpkin. Remove the seeds and stringy fibers & guts.
- Another great tool for scraping the insides of the pumpkin is a lid from a mason jar.
- Store pumpkin seeds in a ziplock bag and store for up to a week.
👻 More Halloween Recipes
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Remove seeds from pumpkin and rinse in a bowl of water, separating the seeds from the pulp. It's ok if all the pulp comes off. Drain all the water. Add oil, lime juice, salt, and spices, and mix to coat well.
- Spread evenly on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake until toasted, approximately 20 minutes, tossing after 10 minutes.
- Oven temperatures vary, so time may need to be adjusted. Remove from oven, and cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Nutrition Info only applies to Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.
- If you will be carving the pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern, begin by slicing the top off the pumpkin as you normally would. Otherwise, slice the pumpkin in half to access the pumpkin seeds more easily.
- A long serrated knife, or a large carving knife (from a carving kit), are the best tools for the job.
- Using a large spoon, ice cream scoop, or carving spoon (from a carving kit) to scrape the inside of the pumpkin. Remove the seeds and stringy fibers & guts.
- Another great tool for scraping the seeds out of the pumpkin is the lid from a mason jar.
- Store pumpkin seeds in a ziplock bag and store for up to a week.
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