 |
| |
Spicy Superseedz, above, are flavored with a savory mix, as are Curry Superseedz, but there are Cinnamon Superseedz for those who like things a bit sweet. And for the traditionalists, Sea Salt, the “original” pumpkin seed, is the best seller. All photography by Naheed Choudhry. |
| WHAT IT IS: Gourmet roasted pumpkin seeds: salted, spicy and sweet. |
| WHY IT’S DIFFERENT: These roasted and flavored pumpkin seeds won a 2007 Gold Medal Award from Gallo Family Vineyards for excellence in taste and commitment to artisan techniques. |
| WHY WE LOVE IT: Fabulous flavors, great garnishes for other foods and NO SHELLS. |
| WHERE TO BUY IT: Superseedz.com. |
|
|
|
Superseedz:
Supercharged Pumpkin Seeds
CAPSULE REPORT: ‘Tis the season for pumpkin, so why not a gourmet pumpkin seed—or four flavors of them? Superseedz are the creation of a mom who started making a healthy snack for her family several years back. Fast-forward a bit, and they won a 2007 Gold Medal Award from the Gallo Family Vineyards, culled as one of six winners from 200 specialty foods screened. If you like pumpkin seeds, you can find out what it’s like to trade up from the generic salty ones to seedz with style. If you haven’t liked the oversalted, crunchy types, this is an entirely different experience. The hulls, or shells, have been removed. You bite into shelled pumpkin seeds—pure pleasure.
When she named the product, creator Kathie Rosenschein didn’t realize she was punning on the word supercedes, which means “supplants” or “takes the place or position of.” But, one taste and there will be no doubt that Superseedz supercedes any other pumpkin seeds you’ve seeded in your snack sack. Say it three times fast, then order yourself a bunch. Read the full review below.
- Read reviews of more of our favorite gourmet snacks.
- See the Table of Contents of the October issue of THE NIBBLE, plus the prior issues archive and our most popular articles.
- All of the Top Pick Of The Week newsletters are permanently archived on TheNibble.com, in chronological order and by product category.
|
THE NIBBLE does not sell the foods we review
or receive fees from manufacturers for recommending them.
Our recommendations are based purely on our opinion, after tasting thousands of products each year, that they represent the best in their respective categories. |
More Pumpkin Fun
 |
 |
 |
| Pumpkin Pie Keeper. This ceramic pie plate and cover lets you store and serve your favorite pie in style (and will happily house apple, pecan, mincemeat or any other pie). Click here for more information. |
NordicWare 3D Great Pumpkin Pan by Marcianne Miller. Create a fall dessert that’s sure to impress in this cast aluminum pan with a nonstick finish. Click here for more information or to purchase. |
Le Creuset Pumpkin Casserole. This pumpkin-shaped casserole from the famed cookware manufacturer adds color and seasonal flair to the presentation of soups, stews and casseroles. Click here for more information. |
Superseedz: Supercharged Pumpkin Seeds
INDEX OF REVIEW
|
MORE TO DISCOVER
|
In May of 2003, Kathie Rosenschein, founder of Kathie’s Kitchen, was making Superseedz in her kitchen and handing samples to people at craft fairs. Four years later, she was shaking hands with the owners of the Gallo Winery as she received a Gold Medal Award, and a major public relations firm handed out her samples in gift bags to assembled food editors and other members of the press. About the same time, she broadened Superseedz’ distribution to stores as well. Four years is a long time or a short time in the life of an entrepreneur, depending on how you look at it, but Superseedz had arrived. The cinnamon-, curry-, sea salt- and spice-flavored pumpkin seeds she roasted for her family because they were healthy snacks, have become an enterprise.
About Pumpkin Seeds
Like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, hulled (shelled) or semi-hulled, have long been roasted as a snack. The hulled seed, unroasted and green, is also known as a pepita. One of the reasons pumpkin seeds are such a great snack is that they are iron-rich: a 1/3-cup serving has 25% of the daily value of iron. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of essential fatty acids, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They may even promote prostate health.
Anyone who has tried to salvage the seeds from the Halloween jack o’lantern knows it’s a messy job—yet, people seem to enjoy the fruits of their labors. The seeds first need to be separated from the slippery, stringy core, washed and seasoned. There are recipes for oven-roasting, pan-frying, even microwaving—and if you’re up to the task of repurposing your pumpkin’s seeds, you can find the recipes online. You’ll still be stuck with the hull, though—it’s virtually impossible to remove the hulls at home (or, otherwise stated, not worth the painstaking labor it would require). The better solution is Superseedz, where the only skill required is opening the resealable bag.
Superseedz Flavors
Superseedz are made with no added fat, and the ingredients are all natural.
Sea Salt
Not surprisingly, Sea Salt is the best seller, and also the flavor that won the Gallo Award. Dry- roasted, they are lightly salted, recalling [not-so-pleasant] memories of the thickly salted pumpkin seeds of our youth, some worthy competitors to a salt lick. If you never cared for pumpkin seeds because of the shell-spitting and the salt overdose, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Serving size 1/3 cup, 160 calories. Complete nutritional information for each flavor is on the Superseedz.com website.
Of course, what is of greatest interest to the hoi polloi—and even to the Gallo judges, esteemed food professionals who do not specialize in specialty foods—turned out to be of least interest to us. The “plain” Sea Salt pumpkin seeds are fine, but the three flavored varieties are absolutely tantalizing, as both snacks and ingredients. So, don’t follow the crowd, but march to the tune of the flavored drummer.
|
Pumpkin Seeds With Sea Salt are the best seller, but,
we think, the least exciting of the four flavors. |
Original Curry Superseedz aren’t spicy, just rich and flavorful.
|
Original Curry
However, our favorite flavor is Original Curry. This is a gentle curry—no smoke steams out of the ears, and less experienced palates may not even recognize it as curry. Rather, the flavor is rich and comforting, with the panache to add extra flavor to recipes (you’ll find our suggestions below) and a golden-tinged color that makes an attractive plate garnish. Serving size 1/3 cup, 150 calories.
Somewhat Spicy
If you do want spice, Somewhat Spicy, roasted in a cayenne pepper sauce and tossed with Cajun spice, will suffice. It won’t blow the roof off, but will gently tickle the upper palate. You can feed them to anyone who enjoys mild salsa. Like Curry, they offer broad recipe and plate garnish opportunities. Serving size 1/3 cup, 160 calories.
Cinnamon & Sugar
Pumpkin seeds and cinnamon make a healthy candy, as you’ll see with your first bite of Cinnamon & Sugar. In addition to snacking, they will instantly elevate almost every dessert you serve. Serving size 1/3 cup, 160 calories.
|
Serving Suggestions
These are not just snackin’ seedz. Far from it. We’ve come up with dozens of uses for them, at every meal of the day (and in-between meals, of course).
- Breakfast: Use Original Curry and Somewhat Spicy to top eggs; Cinnamon & Sugar on waffles, pancakes, French toast, yogurt and cereal.
- Lunch & Dinner: Toss them into salads and rice, garnish soups and vegetables, or simply scatter them on plates as attractive, edible plate decor.
- Dessert: Top ice cream, pudding or yogurt; serve in a ramekin with just about any dessert.
- Cocktails: Add them to hors d’oeuvres; set them out in colorful dishes, as we’ve done here.
- Snacks: Eat them from the bag—they’re portable, resealable and fit into desk drawers, glove compartments, gym bags, lockers, etc.; serve a ramekin with hot chocolate or cider.
|
From Top: Sea Salt, Somewhat Spicy and Original Curry. |
If you’re watching your diet and won’t be enjoying that piece of pie this fall season, try nutritious Superseedz instead. This supercedes any abstinence orders.
— Karen Hochman
FORWARD THIS NIBBLE to anyone who likes crunchy, healthy snacks and to creative cooks looking for new garnishes.
KATHIE’S KITCHEN
Superseedz in Cinnamon & Sugar, Original Curry, Somewhat Spicy and Sea Salt
- 2-Ounce Bag
$2.00
- 6-Ounce Bag
$5.00
Purchase online at Superseedz.com.
Prices and product availability are verified at publication but are subject to change. Shipping is additional. |
|
The bags are resealable.
|
Back to Index
Read more about our favorite
snacks:
|
Check Out These Other “Top Pick Of The Week” Snacks:
|
Do you have friends who would enjoy THE NIBBLE?
Click here to send them an invitation for the Top Pick Of The Week newsletter. |
ABOUT THE NIBBLE. THE NIBBLE™, Great Food Finds™, is an online magazine plus newsletters about specialty foods and the gourmet life. It is the only consumer publication and website that focuses on reviewing the best specialty foods and beverages, in every category. The magazine also covers tabletop items, gourmet housewares, and other areas of interest to people who love fine food.
© Copyright 2004-2024 Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights
reserved. All information contained herein is subject to change at any time
without notice. All details must be directly confirmed with manufacturers, service
establishments and other third parties. The material in this e-zine may not
be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with
the prior written permission of Lifestyle Direct, Inc.
|
|
|
|
