The Biggest Mistake People Make When Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
Now that you're busy scooping huge pumpkins out and turning them into scary lanterns for the spooky season, chances are, you have a ton of pumpkin seeds leftover. Luckily, you can roast the pumpkin seeds into a crunchy snack and have a healthy topping for smoothie bowls and pancakes ready on hand.
Per Healthline, pumpkin seeds are good for your health because they're extremely rich in antioxidants. They can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, regulate blood pressure, keep your heart healthy, and are a rich source of magnesium, which keeps your bones healthy. It also helps that pumpkin seeds are a pretty tasty snack to munch on in between meals.
Needless to say, you should save your pumpkin seeds, roast them, and keep them at home at all times. But, when it comes to roasting pumpkin seeds at home, there are several places where you could be going wrong that could make your batch come out too soggy, a little burnt, or all stuck together into a big fat clump.
You should boil your pumpkin seeds first
According to The Lemon Bowl, the biggest mistake people make when it comes to roasting pumpkins seeds is not boiling them first. Oftentimes, the flesh of the pumpkin seed takes longer to cook, which is why it can be soft and soggy in the middle, even when having a charred appearance on the outside. This is why the site suggests boiling the seeds in water first so as to ensure an even roast. Another trick is to go shop for weighty pumpkins. The heavier the pumpkin weighs, the more seeds it will have.
You should also make sure to separate the seeds from the fleshy pumpkin bits as soon as you've scooped out the seeds (via All Recipes). To help separate the two, you could pop the clumps into a bowl of water and then separate the seeds from the pumpkin flesh with your fingers. Whatever fleshy bits are still stuck onto the seeds will separate while you're boiling the seeds in water.
Another important step to not rush through is drying the pumpkin seeds thoroughly. This will give your seeds the crunch that makes them so tasty and will help the seasoning stick better. From there, you can go all out with your seasoning. Sprinkle some salt and pepper to keep things simple, toss in honey or sugar for sweet pumpkin seeds or chili, paprika, and cumin for a spicier taste (via BBC goodfood).