Sunflower seeds, know in Spanish as ‘pipas’, are popular in most Mediterranean countries as a snack food – often eaten where popcorn might be consumed in the UK or USA. Films, football matches, or just a stroll down the high street in many places just aren’t complete without the distinctive ‘crunch-crunch’ of teeth cracking down on seeds. In Spanish bars, the floor is often coated with an inch thick layer of sunflower seeds husks through which you have to wade to get a drink!
Once you’ve mastered the technique of separating the seeds from the husk with your front teeth (no mean feat for the uninitiated), each repetition of ‘reach-split-crack-separate-spit’ rewards you with a tiny but nutritious seed. But watch any Spanish, Turkish or Israeli pensioner on a park bench and you’ll realise the the true experts can get through kilos of these seeds in a single sitting. And once you start, you just can’t stop until the packet’s empty.
More than a means of sustenance though, this tradition is about passing a leisurely hour in the company of friends with a salty nibble and a drink. But you’ll be surprised to find out that sunflower seeds are incredibly nutritious and packed with essential vitamins and minerals, such as:
- Linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid)
- Dietary Fibre
- Protein
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Selenium
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Cholesterol-lowering phytosterols
So grab a bag now and get munching Med-style! Are you already a lover of ‘pipas’? Let us know where and how you enjoy them.
We’re pleased to help you extend your Spanish food knowledge with this information. Of course, we’d love to welcome you at the online store where you can buy sunflower seeds (pipas) and plenty more. Just a suggestion…
