Best Spicy Pepitas Recipes

SWEET AND SPICY PEPITAS POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Pop the popcorn according to package instructions. While hot, carefully open package and dump into a large bowl.
• Toast the pumpkin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until browned and popping, tossing and stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. (Do this in batches, if needed.) Add to the popcorn.
• Make caramel: Warm the cream over low heat and keep warm while you cook the sugar. Put the sugar and corn syrup and in a deep, heavy-bottomed large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until the sugar reaches the hard crack stage, or 305 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.
• Whisk the butter and salt into the sugar mixture. Gradually pour in the cream and vanilla taking care since the mixture will bubble up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar reaches soft ball stage, 240 degrees F on the thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the cinnamon and cayenne. Cool for about a minute. Pour caramel over the popcorn and stir to evenly coat.
• When the popcorn is cool enough to handle, coat your hands with some butter and shape into 4-inch balls. Wrap in waxed paper and tie with a string, if desired. Serve or store covered at room temperature for up to a week.

SPICY PEPITAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Spread on a baking sheet and bake 5 minutes, or until lightly browned, shaking the pan once or twice. Serve.

SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP WITH MEXICAN CREAM AND TOASTED PEPITAS

Steps:

• Whisk first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Cover; chill 2 hours. (Mexican cream can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent, about 10 minutes. Mix in pumpkin, milk and crushed red pepper. Working in batches, puree mixture in processor. Return to pot. Add broth; simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool. Cover and chill. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
• Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle with cream. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.

RED CABBAGE SALAD WITH SPICY GRILLED CHICKEN AND PEPITAS

Steps:

• Toast pepitas in a heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until brown and starting to pop, 2 to 4 minutes; transfer to a plate. Slice kernels off corncobs. Return skillet to medium-high heat. Cook corn, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Stir in onion. Combine spices and 1 teaspoon salt; stir 1 teaspoon into corn. Season chicken evenly on both sides with remaining 2 teaspoons spice mixture.
• Working in batches, grill cutlets, 2 at a time, in a grill pan over medium-high heat, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip; reduce heat to medium. Grill until cooked through, about 2 minutes; remove from pan, and slice.
• Toast whole-wheat tortillas, 1 at a time, in grill pan, about 15 seconds per side.
• Toss spinach and cabbage with corn mixture. Toss in pepitas, lime juice, and oil. Divide among 4 plates. Serve with chicken, tortillas, yogurt, and lime wedges.

ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES WITH SPICY PEPITAS AND HORSERADISH CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• For the vegetables: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Trim the stems off the beets and lightly scrub with a vegetable brush - this will remove the tough outer layer. Quarter the beets and set aside. Trim the carrots (leaving a little of the stem on), and then cut in half crosswise. Add all the vegetables and the potatoes to a roasting pan along with the garlic head halves. Drizzle with the olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until golden brown and tender, about 45 minutes (the tip of a paring knife should pierce a potato and go through with little resistance).
• For the spicy pepitas: In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, chili powder, cumin and some salt and pepper. Add the pepitas and mix well so they are evenly coated. Toast in the oven until the pepitas are lightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
• For the horseradish creme fraiche: Stir together the creme fraiche and horseradish and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To serve, place the roasted root vegetables on a large platter. Drizzle with the horseradish creme fraiche and garnish with spicy pepitas.