Pumpkin Seeds

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Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seeds
© Denzil Green

Pumpkin Nuts

In Eastern Europe, certain types of pumpkins are grown especially for their seeds to be made into oil. The pumpkins are squished by machines right in the field, the seeds extracted, and the pumpkins discarded right back onto the fields to be used as fertilizer.

In North America, pumpkins are grown for processing into pie filling, and the seeds are the by-product. These seeds can be toasted and seasoned for eating as a snack, or used as an ingredient in cooking.

Raw Pumpkin Seeds are green.

Cooking Tips
To roast, remove seeds from pumpkin flesh. Wash and drain. If you're going to coat them with some oil and then seasoning, let them dry first before doing that. Spread the seeds out on a baking sheet and roast at 350 F (175 C) for 10 minutes, or more slowly at 250 F (120 C) for about 25 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.

Nutrition
Per 1/4 cup, 70 calories and 3 grams of mostly unsaturated fat. High in magnesium and zinc.

Equivalents
1 cup hulled seed (i.e. just the kernels) = 140g = 5 oz by weight

Also called:
Graines de citrouille, Graines de potiron, Pépins de courge (French); Kürbiskerne (German); Semi di zucca (Italian); Pepitas, Semillas de calabaza (Spanish) Top...