Bits & Bites 3 Ways With Sunflower Seeds

These small-but-mighty seeds are usually enjoyed whole, but we cleverly worked the healthful superheroes into three nutritious dishes.

- By Trudy Stone. Photography by Roberto Caruso

SUNFLOWER SEED PESTO & VEG PASTA

This pretty-as-a-picture pasta dish is beefed up with fibrous zucchini, asparagus and tomatoes and served with a nutty sunflower seed pesto.

FOOD STYLING BY LINDSAY GUS SUPER-EASY SMOKY SUNFLOWER DIP

If you like snacking on sunflower seeds, you'll love the smoky flavors in this easy dip. We use a quarter cup of tahini for added creaminess, but you can adjust to taste: Add more for a slightly thinner dip or use a little less for a thicker spread.

SUNFLOWER CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

Our recipe makes 24 cookies, which sounds like a lot. But once you taste the combo of succulent chocolate and nutritious sunflower seeds, you'll be glad to have them.

Super-Easy Smoky Sunflower Dip

SERVES 4.

HANDS-ON TIME: 5 MINUTES.

TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES.

11/2 cups raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup tahini

2 cloves garlic, minced

11/2 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp each sea salt and ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper, or to taste

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil + additional for garnish

1/2 cup reserved soaking liquid