A Pumpkin Seed Primer

Many people believe that "pepitas" is simply the name for shelled pumpkin seeds, the same kind you dig out of your jack-o-lanterns on Halloween. You might be surprised to learn that these are actually seeds from two entirely different pumpkins!

Pumpkin Seeds

The seeds inside your standard carving pumpkin are large, flat and asymmetrically oval with a whitish, edible outer hull. Inside is a flat, green seed that look similar to a pepita, but it's a tad larger. Shelling these seeds is a fairly laborious task, so they are often enjoyed whole and roasted in the shell.

Did You Know?

Pumpkin seed shells are a good source of fiber.

Pepitas

Pepitas are pumpkin seeds, too, but they only come from certain varieties of pumpkins that produce hulless seeds – meaning there's no need for shelling! They are smaller than carving pumpkin seeds with a muted, earthy green color and a shape that's similar to the ones we know from our holiday carving parties.

Both pumpkin seeds and pepitas are wonderful when roasted as a snack or sprinkled over ice cream, yogurt, salads, soups and more. Roasted pepitas are readily available in the Bulk Foods and Grocery Departments.