20 Sweet and Savory Recipes That Make Us Nuts for Pistachios (2024)

FAQs

Are pistachios sweet or savoury? ›

Food glossary

They have a mild, sweet flavour and a slightly chewy texture. Uses: Pistachios are used in a range of sweet and savoury dishes. They are included in stuffings, pâtés and are popular in vegetarian dishes such as risottos and bakes.

A 2020 study found a daily serving of 1.5 oz of pistachios helped reduce body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in males and females with obesity, compared to a control group who did not eat an extra serving of pistachios every day. Learn more about the pros and cons of BMI measurements here.

Why pistachios are a healthy choice. Making nuts such as pistachios a part of your everyday eating is associated with decreased risk of death from cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease, Jeffers says. Pistachios and other nuts are a mainstay of the healthy Mediterranean diet.

Spiced with cinnamon, cayenne and smoked paprika for hint of sweet heat and coated with a layer of crunchy crystalized sugar, these sweet and spicy candied pistachios will quickly become your new favorite snack.

The pistachio (Pistacia vera) isn't really a nut at all. Technically, it is a “drupe,” a fleshy tree fruit that contains a shell-covered seed. With pistachios we discard the fruit flesh for the tasty seed within. The opposite is true with other drupes such as stone fruits like peaches, cherries and apricots.

Nature decides when it's time to harvest pistachios. In the American West, harvest takes place anywhere from late – August to early – October when the fruit is mature and the shell has split.

The most common cross-reactivities with pistachios are plant foods, e.g., tree nuts, fruits, soybeans, vegetables, and legumes. Pistachios and cashews share similar allergenic proteins, so those who react to pistachios may also react to cashews and vice versa.

Frosting- you can use your favorite frosting that fits pistachio flavor well like vanilla buttercream, mascarpone whipped cream, and cream cheese frosting. Green color- if you want your cake to have a green color you can add a few drops of green food coloring or instant pistachio pudding.

People with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, may limit FODMAPs in their diet to have better control over their symptoms. Pistachios are considered a high-FODMAP food because they contain fructans. If you have fructan intolerance – a bad reaction to this type of carbohydrate – pistachios might bother your belly.

Do pistachios flatten your stomach? ›

A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Data Central states that eating pistachios on a regular basis can help people lose belly fat as well as weight.

The vitamin E in pistachios helps improve the function of the male sex organ and reduces how much estrogen the male body produces. Pistachios are also popular among men as they can help increase sperm count. Pistachios contain a healthy amount of L-arginine, which the body uses to create nitric oxide.

May Protect Heart Health

Pistachios are packed with nutrients known to support the health of the cardiovascular system.

Most nutritionists recommend their clients consume no more than two ounces (56 grams) of pistachios every day. For shelled pistachios, that adds up to 90 pistachios. Nutritionists also advise people to drink a sufficient amount of water to digest. Otherwise, you may get an upset stomach after eating pistachios.

Most nuts appear to be generally healthy. But some may have more heart-healthy nutrients than others. For example, walnuts contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and pecans also appear to be quite heart healthy.

The prevalence of fake pistachio flavor has further skewed our perception of what pistachio actually tastes like, which in reality is mildly sweet, nutty and earthy, and sometimes even a bit piney, woody or herbaceous depending on the freshness and variety.

Pistachios taste mildly sweet and are one of the most fulfilling nuts to enjoy. The store-bought ones can be salty, but you can always spend on the raw pistachios to enjoy their original flavor.

While nuts are often seen in confectionery applications and desserts, their savory application is increasing. Nuts are appearing in many more products— and in forms not widely used in the past.

Pistachios are the seeds of the fruits of the Pistachio vera tree, which produces clusters of small fruits that gradually harden and split, exposing the seed within. Though they're seeds, they're considered nuts in culinary settings and classified as a tree nut allergen.