Preparing this recipe for spicy roasted pumpkin seeds is quite easy; all it takes is some time and carefulness. If you’ve ever tried to make any pumpkin recipe, you’d know they are very tasty, but did you know of their impressive health contributions? That’s the deal-breaker about pumpkin seeds.
For thousands of years, pumpkin seeds have served as excellent antiparasitic remedies. Additionally, they boast high levels of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. So, while you’re chewing perhaps the most delicious snack you’ve eaten this year, you’re doing yourself a lot of good.
How many foods can claim that? It’s as though every tasty food is unhealthy these days, but thankfully, pumpkin seeds stand out.
You can enjoy pumpkin seeds raw, as many others do, but they are better savored when roasted and crunchy — you’ll find out for yourself pretty soon. This recipe, in particular, is excellent, given that it contains other health-supporting ingredients like cayenne pepper, which is proven to be an active presence in burning calories while helping to decrease appetite simultaneously.
There’s more to be gotten. Avocado oil, cumin, and paprika are some other ingredients that go into the preparation of this recipe; so, be rest assured you’re doing your body a whole lot of benefits.
Why Is It Necessary To Soak Pumpkin Seeds?
This recipe requires that you soak the pumpkin seeds before anything, so why is it so?
Beans, nuts, and seeds, pumpkin inclusive, have some levels of anti-nutrients, which makes it difficult for the body to digest or absorb nutrients from them. As an example, pumpkin seeds contain phytic acid, an enzyme inhibitor, and anti-nutrient.
When consumed, phytic acid reduces the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients from foods, and you may, therefore, end up malnourished no matter how much you eat. Affected nutrients include zinc, iron calcium, and magnesium.
But why should pumpkin seeds contain anti-nutrients? I mean, aren’t they meant to be beneficial to health?
Well, pumpkin seeds, like all healthy plants, are often targeted by pests due to their health appeal. Thankfully, these anti-nutrients are more like soldiers that defend the prey from predators, thereby ensuring that you’re getting the most from your plants.
Anti-nutrients also ensure that these plants do not sprout prematurely. So, although anti-nutrients are unhealthy to you, they are very much beneficial to healthy plants. I’m not sure these plants would do well without these compounds.
So, what do we do?
Isn’t it obvious? That’s why we are soaking. When you soak pumpkin seeds before roasting, you’re assured of maximum nutrients absorption from them. The least you should soak your seeds before roasting is 8 hours. By soaking for so long, the digestive system finds it easier to digest and absorb them.
There’s an alternative, though, if you don’t have that much time on your hands. You may prefer boiling raw pumpkin seeds in salty water instead of soaking for eight long hours. Both have the same results. A less popular option is to sprout your pumpkin seeds, although this can be more difficult.
Nutritional Value of Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
It’s normal for you to question the benefits of roasted pumpkin seeds. It could, after all, be a media hype, isn’t it? Well, as you will see, pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious to your health. A single bite is a generous punch of vital minerals and vitamins.
A half-cup — which is about 70 grams — of this spicy pumpkin seed recipe contains this much, and maybe even more:
- 226 calories
- 16 grams of fats
- 6.2 grams of fiber
- 6.2 grams of protein
- 0 grams of sugar
- 18 grams of carbohydrate
- 398 milligrams of sodium
- 3.0 milligrams of zinc (30 percent DV)
- 0.4 milligrams of copper (22 percent DV)
- 84 milligrams of magnesium (20 percent DV)
- 0.2 milligrams of manganese (8 percent DV)
- 1 milligram of iron (5.6 percent DV)
- 29.4 milligrams phosphorus (2.4 percent DV)
- 21.6 milligrams calcium (2 percent DV)
Few foods pose such amazing nutritional facts. A half-cup of this recipe would hardly be enough for you, as it is tasty as well, and you may be tempted to eat more. Carry on but do so cautiously. When we consume too many nutrients, the body may have a hard time digesting and absorbing them.
Making The Recipe For Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
There are several ways to make roasted pumpkin seeds, and the steps you read here may differ from what others follow. However, an important step that I would never advise you to skip is soaking, boiling, or sprouting your seeds. Whichever works for you.
You must keep in mind that you may be hurting your health if you roast pumpkin seeds without getting rid of the natural anti-nutrients.
Preparation Time: 30 minutes.
Overall time: 16 hours, 30 minutes.
Diet For: vegetarian, ketogenic, Paleo, vegan, low-carb, and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups of raw, fresh pumpkin seeds.
- ½ teaspoonful of salt.
- ¼ teaspoonful of cumin.
- ½ teaspoonful of paprika
- ½ teaspoonful of chili powder.
- ½ teaspoonful of cayenne pepper.
- 2 tablespoons of avocado oil.
Steps To Follow
- Extract seeds from pumpkin and do away with leftover flesh.
- Soak seeds in warm, salty water for eight (8) hours at moderate temperature. If you don’t have the time, boil for one hour in salty water.
- Fetch seeds from salty water and leave to dry on a baking board at room temperature. This will take 8 hours also.
- Preheat your oven to 300° Fahrenheit.
- Mix all ingredients listed above and beat them into a paste.
- With seeds on a baking sheet, proceed to bake until golden brown or for 30 minutes at most.
- If necessary, increase the oven to 400° Fahrenheit. You must, however, watch out for burning.
Finishing This Recipe For Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
This recipe for spicy roasted pumpkin seeds has excellent health values. Asides, it is highly tasty, which makes it even more appealing. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of zinc and potassium, and this recipe should, therefore, be a regular snack in your diet.
