Whether you’re carving up a jack-o-lantern masterpiece or baking a yummy pumpkin pie, you’re always left with tons of seeds.
Don’t throw them away! They boast an impressive nutrient profile with protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Of course, they can also be pretty tasty!
Sure, you can roast some of them. But what do you do with the rest? I don’t know about you, but I always wind up throwing so many of the pumpkin seeds away, even after I’ve roasted a bunch to snack on. Those large pumpkins have a lot of seeds in them, after all.
Aside from roasting, there are plenty of other things you can do with all those seeds. These versatile seeds make a great addition to both sweet and savory recipes. From sweet treats like cookies, to crunchy coating on a rack of lamb, it seems like these small seeds can do it all.
Let’s take a look at some delicious ways to use them — including some delicious seasoning recipes for roasted pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin Seed Butter
Peanut butter is the standard, by all means. But by now, most people have ventured into other delicious alternatives that feature different nuts and seeds. It seems like a new kind of nut butter appears on store shelves every day.
In this case, you can swap peanuts or nuts for pumpkin seeds to make tasty homemade pumpkin seed butter! With just two ingredients (if we’re counting salt as an ingredient, that is), it’s incredibly easy to make. Spread it on a sandwich, blend it into a smoothie, use it to make a creamy homemade salad dressing, or simply top your oatmeal with it.
Check out the recipe here: Pumpkin Seed Butter
Pumpkin Seed Brittle
You don’t need to be an expert candy maker to whip up this easy-to-make sweet treat. All you need is a reliable candy thermometer to make sure the syrup gets to just the right temperature. This fall alternative to the classic peanut version makes a tasty holiday treat to enjoy by itself, or broken over ice cream. Make extras to give out to friends and family as a homemade holiday gift!
Check out the recipe here: Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Pumpkin Seed Crusted Meat or Fish
The best coating is something crunchy and flavorful — and crushed pumpkin seeds definitely deliver. It will add an extra layer of interesting flavor to compliment the meat. Although the crushed pumpkin seed crust could be used on a variety of different proteins, it can make a rack of lamb extra special, or take trout to the next level.
Check out the recipes here: Honey Pumpkin Seed Crusted Rack of Lamb and Pumpkin Seed Encrusted Trout
All Kinds of Baked Goods
Pumpkin seeds are pretty versatile, and make a great addition to a variety of baked goods. Add them to muffins for a hearty breakfast item fit for a crisp fall day. Or, whip up some deliciously chewy cookies for dessert. Hey, if you’re going to indulge, you might as well do it right!
Check out the recipes here: Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Seed Cookies and Pumpkin Seed Muffins
No-Bake Energy Bites With Pumpkin Seeds
If baking isn’t your thing, why not try out some no-bake energy bites? Incorporating pumpkin seeds gives them a fun fall twist. They are super easy (as the “no-bake” name implies!), plus they are loaded with nutritional ingredients that you can feel good about. These protein-packed bites will keep you going all day long.
Check out the recipe here: Pumpkin No Bake Energy Bites
Butternut Squash Nut Burgers With Roasted Garlic Aioli
The real beauty of veggie burgers? You can use a variety of ingredients to incorporate any flavors you want! For something entirely different, these veggie burgers have pumpkin seeds mixed right inside!
These burgers take advantage of seasonal ingredients for a fall-inspired burger patty. You’ll find butternut squash, pumpkin seeds, and chopped walnuts in here. The recipe calls for white kidney beans to give it a soft texture, but if you prefer a firmer patty, bulk it up by swapping them for chickpeas.
Check out the recipe here: Butternut Squash Nut Burgers With Roasted Garlic Aioli
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Of course, we can’t talk about pumpkin seed recipes without including simple roasted pumpkin seeds! They are simple to make, and the flavor possibilities are endless. You’ll want to make an extra batch, because these crunchy snacks will certainly disappear quickly. Hey, at least they’re healthy, so I don’t have to feel too guilty about eating them all, right?
Depending on your personal taste, you can turn these into savory snacks, or sweet treats. You can also just simply season them with salt! The recipe for these includes six different seasoning recipes to choose from.Check out the recipes here: How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds, Plus 6 Awesome Recipes for Pumkin Seeds Seasoning
