Sunflower seeds have a mild, nutty flavor, a firm yet tender texture, and a roasted and nutty aroma. They’re an excellent addition to your meal plan, and as a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals, they are great for your cardiovascular health.
In essence, they’re good for both your health and palate. So, the next time you go shopping, add a packet of sunflower seeds to your cart, then try one of these sunflower seed recipes, you won’t be disappointed.
#1. Coconut Sunflower Seed Cookies
This delicious cookie recipe calls for sweetened shredded coconut, chewy old-fashioned rolled oats, and salty, roasted sunflower seeds. Add flour, unsalted butter, coconut oil, sugar, eggs, baking soda, and baking powder to produce a treat that will leave everyone wanting more.
Friendly tip: Sunflower seeds go stale quickly, so use fresh ones only, even if you plan to enjoy them immediately.
#2. Easy and Healthy Sunflower Seeds Soup
This soup recipe is rich in nutrients and oh-so-creamy, so it will satisfy your health and taste buds. It just takes 10 minutes to prepare and only requires six ingredients: sunflower seeds, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, fresh dill, and salt. This comforting and delicious soup is plant-based, so it will flawlessly fit into various diets.
#3. Easy Cheese Ball
This cheese ball recipe is the perfect snack or appetizer to munch on. To make cheese balls, use cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar, blue cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and finely chopped onion. Then roll them in sunflower seeds to seal the deal. Serve with your favorite crackers or gift-wrap them as thanksgiving gifts for your guests.
#4. Healthy Yogurt Breakfast Bowl
You can enhance the texture and flavor of healthy yogurt bowls by adding a few interesting ingredients. Here, peanut butter, banana, and add-ins like sunflower seeds lend a hint of sweetness and crunch to the dish, producing a hearty breakfast that will fill you up in no time. Adapt it to your tastes by using ingredients you have on hand.
#5. Homemade Sunflower Seed Bread
Once you get a taste of this sunflower seed bread, you’ll want to make it again and again. It has the perfect amount of crunchiness on the outside, is soft and fluffy on the inside, and has a golden-brown look. To top it off, it also produces the most wonderful aromas as it cooks. A win-win all around.
#6. Seed Bars
Enjoy protein bars but hate spending a fortune on them? This energy bar recipe includes seeds, coconut, honey, and vanilla, and it’s so addicting that it will tempt you to reach for seconds. Enjoy it for breakfast or when you’re low on energy, and watch how it helps you power through the day.
#7. Kale Pasta with Sunflower Cream Sauce
Sunflower cream sauce is wonderful in soups and sauces, but it goes incredibly well with some garlicky pasta. This weeknight favorite comes together quickly without compromising flavor, making it all the more appealing. Serve it with a sprinkle of chili flakes to pack some heat and give your senses something to remember.
#8. Sesame Sunflower Crunch
This recipe creates a dish with a variety of uses and the most amazing textures. The choices are virtually endless: add it to your favorite salad, use it as a granola replacement, top your soup with it, or add it as a crunchy finishing layer to your crepes.
#9. Sunflower Chicken Salad
This recipe transforms a simple salad into a culinary masterpiece. It uses chicken, veggies like zucchini, broccoli, sugar snap peas, and green onions. Add sunflower seeds and sunflower seed butter dressing to produce a hearty, healthy dish with wonderful textures and flavors. It comes together in just 15 minutes and is ideal for family dinners and potlucks.
#10. Sunflower Crunch Salad
Not a fan of chicken? Consider making this sunflower crunch salad. It calls for tossing veggies and protein-rich chickpeas with sunflower butter dressing to produce a finger-lickin’ good meal. Serve it as a side to the main entrée or on its own for a light lunch or dinner.
#11. Sunflower Seed Basil Pesto
This vegan pesto recipe is super delicious, and it comes together quickly. It calls for using basil leaves, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and sunflower seeds to make the pesto. You can use it in everything from pasta to pizza and sandwiches. Are you looking to keep the recipe closer to the original? Add some Parmesan or Romano cheese to the mix.
#12. Sunflower Seed Brittle
This recipe will quickly become your go-to if you enjoy crunchy snacks. It requires only a few ingredients: sunflower seeds, sugar, corn syrup, water, baking soda, salt, and flavoring to produce a sweet snack with the perfect amount of crunchiness. Additionally, you can customize it by adding other spices and seeds to suit your taste.
#13. Trail Mix with Fruit, Seeds, & Chocolate
Don’t get me wrong, store-bought trail mix is fantastic, but it’s often more expensive and of inferior quality. Fortunately, this recipe stands out. It calls for using chocolate, fruits, and seeds.
You can have the trail mix separately or on top of yogurt or oatmeal for a delicious breakfast, lunch, or snack.
#14. Whole Wheat and Sunflower Seed Muffins
Although muffins rule the dessert world, overindulging in them can be unhealthy. But don’t worry, you can enjoy your bite-sized sweets stress-free with this recipe. Simply prepare muffins using whole wheat and sunflower seeds. Season them with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Finally, sweeten them with brown sugar and apple to produce a treat to serve with your afternoon tea.
