Roasted Marrow Seeds

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If you’re a keen gardener, you’ll want to make the most of all those delicious ingredients that grow in your garden – this roasted marrow seeds recipe is one of the best recipes when it comes to getting the best out of your ingredients.

Why you’ll love this recipe

It’s really simple and only involves a few ingredients
You can adapt the seasonings to your personal taste
They make for a delicious healthy snack

Equipment needed to make this recipe

Before you begin this recipe, there are a few kitchen items you’ll need to hand:

Saucepan – you’ll need a large saucepan to boil your marrow seeds in preparation for the roasting stage
Colander – you’ll need a colander to rinse your seeds after boiling
Baking sheet – the all-important baking sheet is needed for the roasting process

Ingredients you need to make this recipe

Coconut or avocado oil – either of these types of oil work best when roasting marrow seeds

How to make roasted marrow seeds

Step 1: Parboil the seeds

Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil. Place a lid on the saucepan to boil the water faster. Once you’ve got a rolling boil, add your scooped marrow seeds and boil them for 20 minutes.

Step 2: Remove the guts

Once they’ve boiled, remove all the guts from the seeds, then rinse them in a colander.

Step 3: Dry the seeds

Dab your seeds dry with a paper towel. The less moisture, the better they’ll roast. Once you’ve partially dried them, arrange the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Leave your seeds to dry completely. This should be at least overnight, but preferably for 24 hours.

Step 4: Season the seeds

Preheat the oven to 160°C (325°F), then drizzle oil over your marrow seeds, while sprinkling them with a pinch of salt. (This is your opportunity to get creative with your seasonings, such as curry powder, peri peri, etc.)

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Step 5: Bake the seeds

Bake the seeds in your preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until crisp and light golden brown. If your seeds are larger, you might need to roast them for up to 45 minutes.

Step 6: Cool down and eat!

Leave to cool slightly, then serve immediately. Enjoy!

Washed marrow seeds laid on a baking tray.

Variations on this recipe

If you’re not vegan, you can use butter instead of oil.
For the seasonings, you can get really creative. Use one of the following spice mixes:
- Salt and pepper seasoning – a wonderfully earthy Asian fusion spice mixture that’s popular with takeaways up and down the UK
- Old Bay seasoning – the legendary US spice mix works with pretty much everything, including roasted marrow seeds
- Cajun seasoning – a delicious spice mixture with a pleasant kick

You could also use any number of Indian spice mixtures, like garam masala or standard curry powder.

Top Tip

This recipe relies heavily on what the state of the marrow seeds are in. The older, bigger and harder the exterior of the marrow is, the better the chances are that the seeds would have matured and hardened. If you open up your marrow and discover the seeds are soft, fret not, you can still make use of them. Check out my Sauteed Marrow Seeds recipe!

What kind of marrow seeds are the best to roast?

There are two states of a marrow seed. When they are younger, they are large, soft and pliable. This is when they are best suited for sautéing in butter. As they mature, they become harder and much more suitable for roasting.

What can you do with roasted marrow seeds?

They make for an amazing snack! Not only are they extremely tasty, but they’re good for you too.

How long does it take to roast marrow seeds?

It depends on the size. Usually, it only takes around 30 minutes to roast marrow seeds. However, if the seeds are on the larger size, it might take around 45 minutes.

How do you store roasted marrow seeds?

The roasted seeds will keep for a week in an airtight container.

Can you freeze roasted marrow seeds?

You can freeze them for up to a month but it may affect the crisp factor after thawing.

More marrow recipes

Sautéed marrow seeds – the best recipe to use for younger marrow seeds
Marrow chutney – a delicious chutney recipe that’s easy to make
Roast marrow – the perfect side dish for your Sunday lunch
Marrow soup – a wonderfully warming winter soup

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