Acorn Squash Seeds -Easy and Tasty

Do you discard the seeds from the acorn squash? - Don't-

The seeds from any kind of winter squash can be roasted in the oven and are delicious and nutritious.
Learn how to make your own tasty seeds!

You may be most familiar with roasting pumpkin seeds, but it's just as easy and tasty to roast and enjoy the seeds from winter squashes like acorn squash, butternut squash, carnival squash, spaghetti squash, buttercup squash, and delicata squash. 

I made roasted acorn squash to use in my Thanksgiving salad.
Seeds can be roasted easily.  It requires 3 easy steps to make 3/4 cup of tasty seeds from 2 acorn squashes. 

Enjoy the seeds instead of pretzels or chips which have practically no nutritional value.

My husband grew up in the Middle East where roasted seeds were popular and plentiful. When my husband was young, he remembers going to the outdoor movie theater where everyone bought a bag of roasted seeds to enjoy while watching the movie. He said that there were shells all over the place when the movie finished.

Nutritious seeds are A far cry from the sugary candies that I consumed at the movies when I was a child. That may be one of the reasons my husband has so few cavities. 

Seeds can be roasted with a little oil and sea salt or flavored with warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom or savory spices like rosemary and cumin. Any spice combination that you like will work. Personally, we are happy to eat them simply salted. 

Seeds offer substantial nutrients including magnesium, essential fatty acids, protein, calcium, potassium, and fiber. 

If you are discarding the seeds when you open an acorn squash or butternut squash, you are missing out on some substantial nutrition. The pulp and strings is much worse from a pumpkin. The acorn squash in minimal.

soak seeds and debris in a bowl of water and use your fingers to separate the pulp. When soaking in water, it comes right off!

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How to roast seeds of winter squashes: 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

1. Cut squash in half and scoop seeds from squash

2. Rinse seeds in a colander and then place in a bowl full of water. 

3. Using your clean hands, swoosh through the water to  remove strings and pulp that stick to the seeds ( will come off easily in the water)

4. Drain well, pat dry, and place on parchment covered cookie sheet.

5. Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with Himalayan salt

6. Roast for 15-20 minutes until seeds brown and start to pop!

Remove from oven and place on a plate! Enjoy-

Some people eat the entire seed; some people only eat the inside of the seed . 

Why not serve the squash and the seeds for Thanksgiving. Seeds make a healthy appetizer or snack that are naturally gluten free, vegan, and soy free. Perfect for all kinds of guests!

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