Sunflower seeds contain large amounts of healthy fatty acids and can be enjoyed fresh or used in breads and dishes. They are very popular in sweets in deserts and many sunflower lovers make their own brine to spice up the sunflower seed flavor. Creating your own brine is easy if you follow the simple steps below. The first humans to enjoy the tasty sunflower seeds were the Native Americans. They even used them for cooking and baking cakes; the sunflower seeds were ground into a nutritious flour that could be used for a wide range of dishes.
If you want to try making your own sunflower seed brine, you should start by washing the seeds. Place the sunflower seeds in a large bowl filled with cold water and stir until dirt collects in the bottom of the bowl and dust particles float to the top.
If you prefer shelled sunflower seeds, you don’t have to brine. Brining is just one way to add flavor to sunflowers without having to remove the husks. With shelled sunflower seeds, you can simply add salt and spices directly to the sunflower seeds. If you coat shelled seeds with cooking spray or vegetable oil, the salt and spices will stick to the kernels better. Sunflower oil is of course a good option here.
The next step is to toast the sunflower seeds. This is not required, but roasted seeds can be stored much longer than fresh ones. If you plan to eat your seeds soon, you can skip this stage. The easiest way to toast sunflower seeds is to spread them out on a plate in a single layer. Heat the oven to approximately 275 degrees Celsius and place the plate in the oven. After about 10 minutes, the seeds will be ready. It is important to keep an eye on the seeds as they can quickly darken if left in the oven for a long time.
Once you have allowed the sunflower seeds to cool, they are ready to be dipped into the seed brine. The brine described below is suitable for both roasted and non-roasted sunflower seeds. This basic recipe will create moderately salted sunflower seeds and you can easily add your own spices to the brine to create your own favorite sunflower seeds.
Start by filling a container with around 1 liter of water and 2 dl of salt (any type of salt will do, you won’t need any special type of salt). Stir the mixture gently until the salt has dissolved. Place the sunflower seeds in the brine and allow them to soak for at least 12 hours. Lift the seeds out of the brine and allow them to dry completely. Proper drying is very important if you plan to store your sunflower seeds. Once the seeds are dry, they can be eaten or stored. If you store your sunflower seeds in a dry place where the temperature is not too high, they will keep their pleasant flavor for months.