Sunflower seed

Sunflower Seeds, a Hint of Roasted Hazelnut

Its mild and slightly sweet flavor makes this seed a popular snack. When roasted, sunflower seeds develop a crunchy texture that further intensifies their nutty aroma, creating a crunchy and tasty snack.

How to Use Sunflower Seeds

Hulled sunflower seeds are appreciated for their flavors and crunchiness. They are used in breads, cakes, or as a snack. They can also be roasted to enhance their taste and then added to a homemade pie, a garden tomato salad, or breakfast cereals.

Some Recipe Ideas with Sunflower Seeds

• Crunchy Salad with Sunflower Seeds: Add roasted sunflower seeds to a salad made of fresh vegetables, green leaves, grilled chicken pieces, and a light dressing. The seeds bring a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor;
• Sunflower Seed Muffins: Incorporate sunflower seeds into your muffin batter to add a unique texture and taste. This works particularly well with banana or carrot muffins;
• Homemade Granola: Prepare your own granola by mixing oat flakes, nuts, sunflower seeds, honey, and dried fruit. Bake until the mixture is crispy;
• Sunflower Seed Pesto: Replace traditional pine nuts with sunflower seeds in your pesto recipe. Blend with fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan, olive oil, and salt;
• Sunflower Seed Bread: Integrate sunflower seeds into your bread dough to give a unique texture to your homemade bread;
• Homemade Energy Bars: Mix sunflower seeds with nuts, dried fruits, honey, and oat flakes to create your own homemade energy bars.

The History and Varieties of Sunflower

The sunflower, scientifically known as Helianthus annuus, is a striking annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It originates from North America, where it was initially domesticated by Native Americans. The origin of the term "sunflower" dates back to the Italian "girasol", meaning literally "turns with the sun". This name derives from the plant's heliotropic characteristic, where the young flowers follow the sun's trajectory across the sky before blooming.

A Global Cultivation of this Precious Oil

The sunflower is widely cultivated for its seeds rich in high-quality edible oil. It holds a prominent position among the three main sources of edible oil in Europe, alongside rapeseed and olive. Introduced to Europe towards the end of the 16th century, the sunflower is now cultivated on almost every continent. The main global producers of sunflower include Ukraine, Russia, the European Union, Argentina, Turkey, and the United States.