Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Roasting In The Range

Remember my pre-Halloween pumpkin display? 

Now that the holiday is over, it's time to process those squash. Today I tackled the smaller kabocha (Japanese pumpkin). Partly because it was smaller and would take less time, and partly because yesterday I finished off the previous one.

I prepare a kabocha every couple of weeks, and have it down to a system.

  • Use a large knife to hack the squash into quarters.
  • Cut off the stem and blossom end
  • Remove the seeds and pulp
  • Cut the large pieces lengthwise into slices
  • Place the slices on a cookie sheet covered with a nonstick liner
  • Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes until the flesh is soft
What do I do with the seeds? I'm glad you asked. Years ago when my boys were young they always wanted to roast the seeds of pumpkins. I was always underwhelmed at the results. Then I learned that if you simmer the seeds in salt water before baking, the saline taste permeates both the shell and the interior kernal. I follow the boiling and baking process from Bob's Red Mill, except I don't add any oil or additional seasoning to the seeds before baking them.

Sometimes when I cut open a pumpkin or squash the seeds are flat and limp, but today they were full and firm. I knew I would enjoy eating them when they were well-roasted. The procedure:

  • Remove the seeds from the pumpkin 'guts'
  • Rinse them well
  • Put the seeds in a pot with water to cover and salt. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down, and simmer for ten minutes
  • Remove them from the water, and dry well with a towel (or put them on a towel to dry overnight)
  • Roast at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Stir them several times while they're baking

In the end I ended up with a cup of roasted seeds. Most of them made it to a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid to be eaten over the next few days.

14 comments:

  1. Interesting pumpkin! Linda in Kansas

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  2. Does this take longer than 5 minutes? That's my attention span. I hate when a microwave dinner takes 6 minutes to heat up.

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    1. It does take longer, but you can fiddle on the computer when things are in the oven.

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    2. I've destroyed a few pizzas because I did that.

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    3. The secret is to set your cell phone timer to go off before you start a project.

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  3. This looks very tasty. I like pumpkin seeds.

    God bless.

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    1. I'd send some across the pond if I could :-)

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  4. Not a big seed eater but i do admire your use of every bit of the pumpkin.

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    1. I enjoy the challenge of not letting anything go to waste.

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  5. Wow interesting unique and new to me
    Thank you dear Kathy

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