Pumpkin Seed Spaetzleaustria Recipes

CARAMELIZED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large skillet, slowly melt the caramel sauce and sugar. When melted stir in cinnamon extract and cayenne. Continue cooking until mixture reaches a temperature of 310 degrees F. Stir in pumpkin seeds until completely coated. Spread caramelized seeds onto the baking sheet and sprinkle with crushed almonds. Separate seeds with wooden spoon until cooled.
• Cook's Notes:
• Melted sugar is very hot. Please use extreme caution when handling and pouring. Pumpkin seeds may be purchased already roasted. If using the seeds from a jack-o-lantern, rinse and clean seeds. Place on a baking sheet, lightly coated with cooking spray, in a preheated 250 degree F oven. Roast seeds for about 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. The actual seed of the pumpkin is inside the hull. The hull is edible.

TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Spread the pumpkin seeds on a medium baking sheet. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with salt.
• Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted.

PUMPKIN SEED SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Finely grind pumpkin seeds with 1/2 cup flour in processor. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt; process just to blend. Whisk 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, eggs, egg yolk, and 1 tablespoon pumpkin seed oil in large bowl. Stir in flour mixture.
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Working in batches, spoon batter into potato ricer or spaetzle maker. Slowly press batter into boiling water, shaking ricer occasionally to release spaetzle. Stir to prevent sticking, then simmer until cooked through and tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Using skimmer or large slotted spoon, transfer spaetzle to colander; rinse with cold water. Transfer to large bowl. do ahead Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Working in batches, spoon batter into potato ricer or spaetzle maker. Slowly press batter into boiling water, shaking ricer occasionally to release spaetzle. Stir to prevent sticking, then simmer until cooked through and tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Using skimmer or large slotted spoon, transfer spaetzle to colander; rinse with cold water. Transfer to large bowl. do ahead Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add spaetzle; sprinkle lightly with nutmeg and stir until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer spaetzle to large bowl. Drizzle pumpkin seed oil over and serve.
• Also known as pepitas; available at many supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Latin markets.
• ** Available at specialty foods stores and from culinarydistrict.com.

PUMPKIN-SEED PIECRUST

Steps:

• Place pepitas in a food processor; pulse until chopped. Add flour, salt, and sugar; pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some blueberrysize clumps. Add ice water and pulse until incorporated, about 10 times more. Squeeze a small amount of dough to make sure it holds together. If dough is too dry, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap, forming each into 1 disk. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days. Dough can be frozen up to 1 month.
• Roll out 1 disk of dough to just under 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch glass pie plate. Trim excess, leaving a 1-inch overhang; fold edges under and set aside. Roll out remaining disk of dough to just under 1/4 inch thick, cut out small leaf shapes, and mark veins with a knife, if desired. Brush edges of piecrust with egg wash and apply leaves. Freeze at least 1 hour or up to 1 week.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush pastry leaves with more egg wash. Line piecrust with parchment and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until edges are lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Remove parchment and weights and bake until entire crust is golden, about 10 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour.