Simple Recipes with Pumpkin Seed Oil

A Healthful and Tasty Oil for Starters to Desserts

© Corinne Westphal

Sep 10, 2008

The people of Styria, in northeastern Austria, and parts of Slovakia, Croatia and Hungary have cherished the delicate taste and health benefits of pumpkin seed oil for centuries. Great chefs world-wide have recently started using it in their culinary creations.

But now there’s no need to travel all the way to Austria, nor hire a great chef in order to enjoy pumpkin seed oil in your meals. Here are a few tradition-based and contemporary recipes to try at home.

Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing

An excellent base for a variety of dishes.

• 4 Tablespoons Pumpkin Seed Oil
• 2 Tablespoons wine or cider vinegar
• Salt and ground pepper to taste
• Pinch of sugar (optional)
• 1 garlic clove, crushed (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together well.
2. Refrigerate at least one hour, allowing flavors to blend.

Uses:

Salad: Toss with arugula, lamb’s lettuce or mixed salad.

Tomato and Mozzarella Starter: Slice fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. Alternate tomato and mozzarella slices on a platter. Decorate with fresh basil leaves. Drizzle Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing on top.

Cold Cut Marinade: Place a variety of cold cuts on a platter (sliced roast beef, prosciutto and smoked ham work particularly nicely). Generously drizzle Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing over cold cuts. Serve with slices of fresh bread or salad on the side.

Potato, Bacon and Lamb’s Lettuce Salad

Potato salad with a twist. An adaptation of an Austrian-style Kartoffel-Vogerlsalat mit Speck.

Side Dish Servings: 4

• 1/2 lb potatoes
• 1/4 lb lamb’s leaf lettuce
• 3 oz bacon
• 1 Tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
• 2-1/2 Tablespoons pumpkin seed oil
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 Tablespoon sunflower or olive oil

1. Boil potatoes in salted water. For medium potatoes, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Peel and cut into slices.
3. Wash lamb’s lettuce and drain.
4. Fry or microwave bacon until crispy. Place on paper towel to absorb excess oil.
5. Cut bacon into thin pieces or crumble.
6. Mix bacon and vinegar in a bowl.
7. Add pumpkin seed oil and other oil.
8. Stir in pinch of salt and pepper.
9. Toss gently with warm potatoes and lamb’s lettuce.

Vanilla Ice Cream with Pumpkin Seed Oil

Servings: 1

• 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream
• 1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Seed Oil

1. Drizzle pumpkin seed oil over scoop of ice cream.

Optional: slice fresh strawberries over ice cream before adding the oil.

Grilled Asparagus with Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing

Side Dish Servings: 4

• 16 oz asparagus
• 2 Tablespoons pumpkin seed oil
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pinch of sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper
• Grated parmesan

1. Rinse asparagus and snap off tough ends.
2. Spray lightly with olive oil.
3. Place asparagus on the grill and cook, turning often until they begin to brown a little bit, depending on thickness, 5 – 8 minutes. They should remain crisp and bright green,
4. Remove from heat and cut spears in half.
5. Mix oils, sugar, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper.
6. Place asparagus on a platter, drizzle dressing on top.
7. Grate fresh parmesan over the spears.

Optional: add freshly grilled or boiled shrimp or other seafood to turn it into a light, main dish.

Potato, Bacon & Lamb's Lettuce Salad

Vanilla Ice Cream w/ Pumpkin Seed Oil

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