pepitas

pepitas (peh-pee-tuhs) noun

Also pumpkin seeds. The seeds of a pumpkin or winter squash from the genus Cucurbita. Right from the squash, these flat, oval seeds are covered with a white hull. For culinary uses, we typically look for the green-colored seed inside the hull (as seen above). They can be eaten raw or roasted. They can be purchased raw, roasted, roasted and salted, or you can roast them at home. They are often eaten as a snack and can be called for in some classic mole recipes and other savory stews where they act as a thickener.

Bakepedia Tip

As with many nut and seeds, these are versatile. Check out the Pepita Toffee in our Pumpkin Toffee Cheesecake recipe. It is great on its own as a candy.

Additional Information

Balyess, Rick. Rick Bayless’s Mexican Kitchen: Capturing the Vibrant Flavors of World-Class Cuisine, Scribner, 1996.