Description
Transform leftover pumpkin seeds into an addictive, crunchy snack with deep smoky flavor and bursts of flaky sea salt. This easy recipe uses a simple boiling trick for perfectly crispy seeds every time.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh pumpkin seeds (from a medium pumpkin)
- 4 cups water
- 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt (for boiling)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (for finishing, e.g., Maldon)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Place pumpkin seeds in a colander and rinse under cool water, gently rubbing off large bits of pulp. Don’t worry about removing every string.
- In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt and stir to dissolve. Add rinsed seeds and boil for exactly 10 minutes.
- Drain seeds in the colander and spread them on a clean kitchen towel. Pat very dry and let air dry for 5 minutes.
- Transfer dried seeds to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil, then add smoked paprika, garlic powder (if using), and cayenne (if using). Toss until evenly coated.
- Spread seasoned seeds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until deep golden brown and fragrant.
- Immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt while still hot. Let cool completely on the baking sheet before serving.
Notes
Boiling the seeds is essential for a crunchy texture—do not skip. Dry seeds thoroughly before roasting to prevent steaming. Let seeds cool completely to achieve maximum crunch. For extra flavor, try variations like spicy chipotle, sweet & smoky, everything bagel, herb & garlic, or cheesy nutritional yeast. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks; re-crisp in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup (about 30g)
- Calories: 150
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 7
Keywords: roasted pumpkin seeds, smoky pumpkin seeds, sea salt pumpkin seeds, fall snack, Halloween snack, healthy snack, gluten-free snack