Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Paprika (Printable version)

Crunchy pumpkin seeds roasted with smoky paprika for a savory snack or salad topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seeds

01 - 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds

→ Seasoning

02 - 1½ tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
04 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
05 - ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - If using fresh pumpkin seeds, rinse thoroughly to remove pulp, then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.
03 - In a large bowl, mix pumpkin seeds with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if desired, tossing until evenly coated.
04 - Spread the seasoned seeds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Roast seeds for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking, until golden and crisp.
06 - Allow seeds to cool completely on the baking sheet before serving or transferring to an airtight container.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • They taste like autumn distilled into a single bite, with a crunch that beats any chip.
  • You can season them a thousand ways, but this smoky paprika version is the one people ask for by name.
  • They're shockingly easy and use something you'd otherwise throw away, which feels like a small kitchen victory every time.
02 -
  • If the seeds aren't completely dry before roasting, they'll steam instead of crisp, and no amount of oven time will fix that.
  • Don't skip the halfway stir or the ones on the edges will scorch while the center stays pale.
  • Taste one before you put the bowl out because they're so good you might not want to share.
03 -
  • Use a salad spinner to dry fresh seeds faster and more thoroughly than any towel ever could.
  • If you love heat, add the cayenne after roasting so you can control the burn without guessing in the bowl.
  • Double the batch because once people taste them, they'll ask where you bought them, and you'll feel smug saying you made them yourself.

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