Pumpkin seed

How to Incorporate Pumpkin Seeds into Your Cooking

Add them to a homemade quiche, a garden-fresh tomato salad, homemade granola for breakfast, a creamy pumpkin or carrot soup, a vegetable tabbouleh, or simple homemade savory biscuits. It's a delight!

Some Recipe Ideas Using Pumpkin Seeds

• Homemade Granola with Pumpkin Seeds: Mix together oats, nuts, pumpkin seeds, honey or maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and a pinch of salt. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until golden and crispy.
• Autumn Salad with Pumpkin Seeds: Combine arugula leaves, apple chunks, roasted beet slices, crumbled goat cheese, and pumpkin seeds. Season with a dressing of apple cider vinegar and olive oil.
• Energy Bars with Pumpkin Seeds: Mix together pitted dates, oats, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and nut butter. Press the mixture into a mold, refrigerate, and cut into bars for a nutritious snack.
• Pumpkin Seed Bread: Add pumpkin seeds to your homemade bread dough for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. You can also sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top of the bread before baking.
• Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seed Garnish: Prepare a creamy pumpkin soup and top each bowl with roasted pumpkin seeds for a texture contrast and extra flavor.
• Pumpkin Seed Pesto: Replace pine nuts with pumpkin seeds in your pesto recipe. Blend pumpkin seeds, fresh basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and olive oil for a flavorful sauce.

The Sweetness of Pumpkin Seeds

They offer a subtly nutty, sweet, and earthy flavor. Their delicate taste and crunchy texture complement a variety of foods, adding depth of flavor without overpowering other ingredients. When toasted, pumpkin seeds develop a more intense and toasted aroma, enhancing their aromatic profile.

The Botanical Origin of Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, come from various species of cucurbits mainly belonging to the genera Cucurbita and Cucurbita pepo. These plants, native to Central and North America, include varieties such as butternut squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash. Pumpkin seeds are harvested from the ripe fruits of these plants, after being separated from the pulp and dried. Historically, indigenous peoples of the Americas used pumpkin seeds for their nutritional value, consuming them raw, roasted, or incorporated into various dishes.