*THESE* roasted pepitas with chicken fat, cinnamon and cayenne are salty, crunchy, slightly hot, and so good they’re almost addictive.
The chicken fat combined with the warm spices adds some nice wintery-autumn flavours that we just can’t get enough of.
Plus, if you’ve got leftover chicken fat from roasting chicken bones for chicken stock, then these roasted pepitas are a great way to make use of that.
These roasted pumpkin seeds are dairy-free, gluten-free, keto and an awesome healthy snack to add to your snack drawer.
What are Roasted Pepitas?
Pepitas are essentially pumpkin seeds except they don’t have a husk.
You’ve probably seen the cream-coloured pumpkin seeds which are common in pumpkins for carving. Although similar, pepitas are from a different variety of pumpkin that doesn’t contain husks.
When you roast pepitas they become crispier with a stronger and more delicious roasted flavour.
What Can I Use Roasted Pepitas For?
They’re great as a quick healthy snack on their own but here are a few other ideas:
- Mix them into a salad like this Rocket Salad with Warm Cherry Tomatoes.
- Sprinkle them over a squash pasta like This Brown Butter Squash Tagliatelle.
- Mix them into These Crispy Fried Brussel Sprouts with Banana and Lime.
- Toss them into this Pan Fried Brown Butter Ricotta Gnocchi with Apple and Sage.
- As a garnish for this Squash Ajo Blanco (Vegan).
- Use them as a base for Mexican Mole Sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Chicken fat: I like to use rendered chicken fat for these because it adds a lot of flavour and is a good way to use up something I might normally throw away. You can also use butter or a high-smoke point vegetable oil for a vegan option.
Cayenne: A small amount of cayenne gives these roasted pepitas a little kick without knocking your socks off. Originally I wanted to use Aleppo chilli flakes in this recipe but they can be difficult to find so cayenne is the next best thing. Also, if you like it hotter, add more spice!
Cinnamon: A little cinnamon brings on the wintery-fall vibes and tricks your mind into thinking it’s sweet.
Salt: When you add salt to these, this is when they become addictive!
How to Make Rendered Chicken Fat
I’m using the rendered chicken fat that I get after roasting chicken bones for chicken stock.
To make your own rendered chicken fat:
- Use either chicken wings or a whole carcass which has a lot of fat. Roast it in the oven on a baking tray for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 200°C/400°F.
- Carefully pour the hot chicken fat into a pan or heatproof bowl and allow it to cool slightly.
- You can keep this in a mason jar for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or freeze it for months.
How to Roast Pepitas Effectively
- Set the oven to 375°F/190°C.
- In a cast iron pan, melt the chicken fat over medium heat.
- Add the pepitas, spices and salt. Stir and mix well.
- Put the pan in the oven and roast for 5 minutes, then stir the seeds with a spoon and back in the oven for another 5 minutes or until medium brown and crispy.
- Remove the seeds from the pan and let cool on a plate.
Crunchy Roasted Pepitas with Chicken Fat, Cinnamon and Chili
Equipment
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 125 g pepitas
- 18 g chicken fat (about 1 tbsp)
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground cayenne
- ¼-⅓ tsp salt (season to your liking)
Instructions
- Set oven to 375°F/190°C.
- Heat the chicken fat in a cast iron pan over medium heat until melted.
- Add the pepitas, spices and salt. Stir with a spoon and mix well.
- Place the pan in the oven for 5 minutes. Then stir the seeds with the spoon and put them back in the oven for another 5 minutes or until the outsides are medium brown and crispy.Remove from pan and let cool on a plate.
Notes
Nutrition
More Keto Recipes…
- This Ultra-Comforting Keto Eggplant Parm
- Crunchy Roasted Pepitas with Cayenne, Cinnamon and Chicken Fat
- This Easy and Healthy Spiced Zucchini Dip
- Sauteed Asparagus with Citrus Mayo
- Zucchini with Olive Oil Sage and Garlic
