Are pumpkin seeds good?

[rawererin]

AKA pepitas, the green shelled raw ones? I'm thinking of adding more seeds to my granola than nuts to keep it a little lighter but I don't want any that are funky tasting. Are these pretty mild?

[ShelShel]

I can tell you that raw ones do not taste like the ones you grew up with that are cooked and salted, but if you season them as you like and toss them in the dehydrator you can get them to taste that one...or pretty close. :p I don't mind a few of them completely raw and unaltered, but after a few, I'm done. Try them by themselves first before you add them to your other foods. If you don't like them alone, you won't want them in your other dishes.;)

[Snoozy]

I just tried some for the first time yesterday and LOVED them! But, I soaked them first and then added some seasonings (paprika, sea salt and onion powder) and then dehydrated them for about 24 hours to make them crunchy.

I ate a bunch by themselves and then I added them to my wraps for lunch. They were great. I need to make some more! :D

[Shell]

Hi rawererin! I LOVE pepitas! I add them to my "granola", and find they give it a nice chewy mouth feel. I'd definitely give them a go!

[JennaBoBenna]

I don't like em. They have a weird sort of taste to me...but that's just me :)

[Raene]

It's funny, a few weeks ago I was eating some soaked ones and my boss, who's been a raw foodist for like 20 years, noticed and asked if I liked them. I said, "no, actually I HATE them but I know they're good for me." He said he doesn't like em either, lol.
They are almost inedible to me and I can eat almost anything. They taste soooo bad. But it's a great source of iron...

[rawererin]

hmm seems like everyone has a different reaction to them, I think I'll be safe and leave them out for now lol!

[Arky]

I eat them very regularly indeed, for their valuable zinc content.

If you don't like the taste, soaking them seems to make them considerably milder to the palate. Strangely, I find grinding them makes them taste milder too. Personally, though, I find them quite pleasant now I'm accustomed to them.

I will not stop including them in my diet because, aside from their healthy EFA content, I am very aware of how difficult zinc is to obtain in sufficient quantity. I'd truly have to be insane not to get whatever zinc I can from the humble pumpkin seed. In fact, it amazes me that people concern themselves more with the taste of them than they do with the fact that they may not be eating enough zinc in their diet and may actually desperately NEED to start including pumpkin seeds in their diet, as a consequence! :)


J.

[avolove]

I'm with those that say "YUCK" to the plain raw ones!! But I soak mine then dehydrate with sea salt and garlic and yuck becomes yummy.

[rawererin]

sweet thanks guys, maybe I will order some now!

[Banshee]

I love them! I eat them straight, or throw in my salad...yummy!!