Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds – Crispy and Golden

Name: Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds – Crispy and Golden
Total time: 13 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 100 g (3.5 oz) raw unsalted pumpkin seeds; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon (or to taste) salt

Crispy and golden pumpkin seeds, quickly roasted in the air fryer, perfect as a healthy snack.

Time: 13 min4 servingsDifficulty: Easy160°CVegetables

Steps

1
In a bowl, mix the pumpkin seeds with olive oil and salt until evenly coated.
2
Preheat the air fryer to 160°C (320°F).
3
Spread the seeds in a single layer in the air fryer basket and roast for 6–8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking.
4
Let the roasted seeds cool on a plate or baking paper; they will crisp up as they cool.

Shopping list

100 g (3.5 oz) raw unsalted pumpkin seeds, 1 tsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

Recipe story

Pumpkin seeds have been consumed since ancient times in Central America, where pumpkins were cultivated by the Aztecs and Mayans. They were roasted and salted as a nutritious snack. In Europe, they became popular after the discovery of America, being adopted in Spanish and Italian cuisines. Today, they are appreciated globally for their crunchy texture and nutritional benefits.

Ingredient Secrets

Sea salt

Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.

Olive oil

Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.