Roasted Turmeric Pumpkin Seeds

Hannah Sunderani
Oct 18, 2016
3 min read

STOP! Before you throw away with those pumpkin seeds consider roasting them instead! It's a shame really that so many pumpkin seeds get thrown in the trash every year. Their glorious crunchy potential is too often overlooked. But they deserve some serious food cred! Because when roasted it's a transformation at its finest. And one that should be celebrated every year.

These Roasted Turmeric Pumpkin Seeds are none other than a divine snack! Flavoured with turmeric, chili powder, cumin and salt; and baked until deliciously roasted and crunchy. They are my favourite halloween treat! And the perfect snack to graze on when taking your kids trick-or-treating, on the way home from work, or tossed into soups and salads. I love the spicy kick it offers, but even a simple sprinkle of salt is enough to eat the entire bowl.

We all know the Halloween ritual: Pick a pumpkin, cut out the stem, scoop out the seeds and flesh, cut out a face and stick in a candle. And it's SO much fun! But not for a second do we consider those little white pumpkin seeds; sitting amongst the orange flesh on scattered old newspaper. Why is it this way? Why do we so easily overlook this magical food?

I can only attribute it to its ooey-gooey slimy feel. It brings me right back to my childhood. Digging my hand inside a cold pumpkin with a cringing face and frightened expression. Being hyper aware in that moment of what was between my fingers. It's no wonder they've made so many Halloween games from it. Blindfolding kids and asking them to stick their hands into a bowl of "vampire brains!" Did you remember this? It still gives me the heebie jeebies! The memory is forever etched in my brain. Little did I know 20 year later I would be volunteering to take them home to eat! "You aren't throwing away those vampire brains are you? I'd love to eat them!" I'm seriously going to scare the bejeepers out of my future kids!

But really, thanks goodness I've overcome this scary moment of slimy weirdness and given roasted pumpkin seeds a go. In fact, I wouldn't say I've overcome the sensation entirely... there is still a part of me that gets a little spooked, but I know that the outcome is worth it. It's the perfect Halloween trick AND treat! So think twice this year before throwing away those pumpkin seeds; and roast them up instead. I promise it's worth the spooky moment of holding onto those slimy seeds. And hey, it wouldn't be Halloween without a little spook. ;)

Roasted Turmeric Pumpkin Seeds

Makes: Approx. 1 cup| Prep Time: 20 mins| Cook Time: 10-20 mins

Ingredients:

Uncooked pumpkin seeds from the inside of one pumpkin (approx. 1 cup)
1 tbsp grape seed oil (plus more if required)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp sea salt, or more if desired

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Scoop seeds from the inside of pumpkin and separate them from the orange flesh. Rinse seeds well and pat completely dry with a clean dish towel.
Line baking tray with parchment paper and lay pumpkin seeds flat onto tray. Drizzle with 1 tbsp grape seed oil, or enough to coat entirely.
Sprinkle seeds with turmeric, cumin, chili powder and sea salt. Mix gently on tray to combine. Add more sea salt if desired.
Place seeds in the oven to roast for 10-20 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with more sea salt if desired.

Approvals: