Description
A deliciously balanced recipe for sweet and salty roasted pumpkin seeds that are crunchy and flavorful. Perfect as a healthy snack or salad topping, these seeds are coated with olive oil, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, vanilla, and kosher salt, then oven-roasted to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Pumpkin Seeds
- 2 cups (about 320 g) pumpkin seeds, washed and thoroughly dried
Coating
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Seeds: Remove the seeds from the pumpkin, eliminating as much flesh as possible. Wash the seeds thoroughly, spread them on paper towels, and blot dry. For best results, let them air dry overnight to ensure crispiness.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and adjust the rack to the middle position to promote even roasting and prevent burning.
- Mix Coating: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, combine the dried pumpkin seeds with extra virgin olive oil, brown sugar, kosher salt, balsamic vinegar, and vanilla extract. Toss the seeds well to coat them evenly.
- Spread Seeds: Spread the coated pumpkin seeds in a single, even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Space seeds apart to avoid steaming during roasting.
- Roast Seeds: Roast the seeds in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Then check frequently, rotating the baking sheet halfway through roasting. Continue roasting for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the seeds turn a golden brown and emit a nutty aroma.
- Cool and Store: Remove the baking sheet and let the roasted pumpkin seeds cool completely on the sheet. Store them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness.
Notes
- Air drying seeds overnight greatly improves crispiness.
- Keep a close eye during the last minutes of roasting to prevent burning.
- Storing roasted seeds in an airtight container keeps them fresh for up to two weeks.
- Adjust sugar and salt levels to your taste preference.
