"I keep a jar of seeds in my fridge... don't you?"
I regularly toast seeds - either sunflower or pumpkin, often a mix of both. Occasionally I throw some flax, sesame or hemp seeds in for fun (don't toast flax, just throw it in afterwards).
Seeds are full of good fat and protein, so a good addition to any diet.
Raw seeds will keep in the freezer for several months. I buy raw seeds in bulk and keep frozen until I am ready to use them. Once toasted I keep them in the fridge for a week or two. Use them on top of any salad, soup, rice or noodle dishes. These are an absolute must when I am eating the most virtuously . I like crunch, which is fully provided by a few seeds tossed on top of my dinner. Toasted seeds can make the simplest dish of rice and steamed veggies interesting.
Directions:
- Toss a cup of seeds in a hot cast iron skillet and heat until they become aromatic and start to brown a bit.
- It's okay to allow them to pop a bit, but don't them scorch - they will turn bitter. You just want a nice golden brown.
- Smaller seeds are more delicate and will burn if added to the pan at the same time as pumpkin or sunflower seeds. Add at the end and only heat for a 30 seconds are so, stirring constantly. Watch them carefully, they will burn quickly.
- For a bit more flavour, toss the toasted seeds with a dash of tamari or shoyu.
- Allow them to cool completely.
- Store in a mason jar, with air tight lid, in refrigerator, up to 2 weeks.
A little bit of advice I've taken from Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet.
A Better Balance says
I've never considered toasted seeds. What an interesting idea!