‼️Don’t throw out those butternut squash seeds! If prepared properly, they taste EVEN BETTER than roasted pumpkin seeds! More crunchy and less chewy!
The soaking action is KEY 💫. All seeds contain phytates, which can inhibit the absorption of nutrients like iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. Soaking disables their action and unlocks these nutrients. Don’t rush it by skipping this step!
Why dehydrate instead of roast in the oven? When we soak the seeds, it activates enzymes, which helps us digest the seeds properly (another benefit of soaking🙌🏼). However, if the seeds are subjected to high temps, these enzymes are destroyed.
Dehydrating at low temps preserves these enzymes, making them even more digestible. Our ancestors used to soak nuts, seeds, grains, and beans regularly. Unfortunately, in our modern world of convenience, this practice has nearly been forgotten.
Recipe⬇️
1) Rinse the seeds so they’re free from the pulp
2) Soak for 12-24h in a brine (1.5 tsp salt in 2 cups water)
3) Drain, but don’t rinse
4) Spread the seeds on a towel to air dry
5) Toss with olive oil, salt, and spices (we like smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, and chili powder) – just eyeball it!
6) Dehydrate at 115F for 12-24 hours, then enjoy!
*Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months, but TBH these never even make it into the jar at our house because we scarf them all down 😆
#butternutsquash #healthysnacks #homesteader #recipeideas #dehydratedfood #dehydrating