photo by thefancyblog
Like most Americans, I grew up with the phrase "chestnuts roasting on an open fire…" and like most, never really much in the way of actual chestnuts. In Mexico, you'll find roasted pepitas on the street and in markets -lightly roasted with salt and chili. With Halloween coming up and pepitas in season, the time is right for these addictive little snacks.
photo by externo
These are seriously addictive. Roast them a couple batches at a time and they won't last more than a day. Raw pepitas are easy to find at Whole Foods and Mexican markets.
These are also excellent on salads and other meals. I typically keep them as a snack - especially if I plan to be cooking with anyone waiting around the kitchen.
Spicy Pepitas
1 cup raw pepitas
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp red chili, I use reshempatti from India
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Spread the pepitas out on a baking sheet or large casserole dish.
- Bake for 15 minutes. You can make these in batches.