Description
Learn how to make delicious Italian style pumpkin seeds roasted to golden perfection. This easy recipe features fresh pumpkin seeds seasoned with fragrant Italian herbs, garlic powder, paprika, and a hint of cayenne for a flavorful, crunchy snack perfect for fall or anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- Seeds from 1 whole fresh pumpkin, fresh, raw
- Olive oil, enough to coat seeds (approximately 1-2 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon (7g) Italian seasoning, dried
- 1 teaspoon (3g) granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (2g) paprika
- Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)
- White pepper or black pepper, to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon)
- Dash of cayenne pepper (optional, about 1/8 teaspoon)
Instructions
- Scoop Pumpkin Seeds: Carefully cut open your fresh pumpkin and scoop out all of the seeds into a large bowl, separating them from the pumpkin pulp as much as possible.
- Clean the Seeds: Rinse the pumpkin seeds thoroughly under cold water, removing any remaining pumpkin flesh attached. Drain well.
- Boil the Seeds: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the cleaned pumpkin seeds. Boil them for about 10 minutes to soften and prepare them for roasting.
- Preheat the Oven: While the seeds are boiling, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) to ensure even roasting.
- Drain and Season: After boiling, drain the seeds and pat them dry with a clean towel. Transfer to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne. Toss to coat evenly.
- Spread on Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it. Spread the seasoned pumpkin seeds in a single layer on the sheet, ensuring they aren’t overlapping.
- Roast Until Golden: Roast the seeds in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking, until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Cool and Store: Remove the roasted seeds from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Boiling the seeds before roasting helps achieve a tender inside with a crispy exterior.
- Feel free to adjust the cayenne pepper for your preferred spice level or omit it altogether.
- Storage in an airtight container keeps the seeds crunchy for up to 1 week.
- You can use other seasoning blends if Italian seasoning is not available.
- Make sure seeds are spread out in a single layer to roast evenly.
