Baking with Pistachios | American Pistachio Growers (2024)

Among all the nuts in the baker’s toolbox, only pistachios add luscious color. Sprinkled on top of Danish pastry, on a glistening apricot tart, or on honey-drenched baklava, they provide the visual contrast that makes for eye appeal.

Introduction to pistachios in baking applications

In India, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East, pistachios impart an air of luxury and sophistication to baked goods and other desserts. A few examples to inspire your own creativity:

Baking with Pistachios | American Pistachio Growers (11)

From India:

Rice pudding scented with rose water and garnished with chopped pistachios Naan (yeast-risen flatbread) dough incorporating toasted pistachios and dried cherries, an idea from Indian cooking teacher Julie Sahni

From Turkey:

“Bird’s nest” pastry made of filo coiled around chopped pistachios and drizzled with syrup

Kadayif: “shredded wheat” pastry with sugar syrup, orange flower water, cream filling, and chopped pistachios

Ana Sortun’s Palace Bread: This Cambridge, Massachusett’s, chef’s version of kadayif uses baguette chunks simmered in caramel with rose water and garnished with mascarpone and pistachios.

From the Middle East:

Maamoul: semolina cookies with orange blossom water and pistachio filling

In baked goods, flavor complements for pistachios include:

  • fresh apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears, and figs
  • dried apricots, figs, prunes, cherries, and dates
  • “warm” spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, clove, and mace
  • floral scents such as lavender, orange flower water, and rose water
  • semolina flour

“Pistachios remain green only until you toast them,” notes Aaron Brown, chef-instructor at the Culinary Institute of America. A light toasting heightens their flavor, but the nuts will darken with the heat. Folded into quick breads, muffins, cupcakes, or yeast breads, they contribute crunch and buttery flavor but they don’t stay green.

To preserve their green color, sprinkle pistachios on baked goods after baking—on top of a cheesecake or pear tart, for example. Or use them in items like shortbread that bake at a relatively low temperature, minimizing the color change.

Baking with Pistachios | American Pistachio Growers (2024)

FAQs

Can eating too many pistachios upset your stomach? ›

If you consume excessive pistachios, you may experience digestive discomforts, such as bloating, gas, and potentially diarrhea. Practicing moderation by consuming pistachios as part of a balanced diet is important to avoid these potential health concerns.

How many pistachios should you eat in a day? ›

Regularly eating pistachios may help improve health and wellbeing. But people should stick to plain, unsalted pistachio nuts in their shells and avoid eating more than 1 oz a day.

What pistachios to use for baking? ›

I usually use unsalted raw pistachios for this cake recipe, but you can use raw or roasted pistachios, salted or unsalted, whichever you prefer. I recommend buying them already shelled, to save time.

Should I use raw or roasted pistachios in baking? ›

Buy raw for maximum potential in both sweet and savory dishes. Toast as needed to enhance flavor. Purchase raw kernels for making your own pistachio flour, paste, and butter. Made with raw nuts, all of these items retain more green color.

What happens to your body when you eat pistachios everyday? ›

The bottom line

Pistachios are a great source of healthy fats, fiber, protein, antioxidants, and various nutrients, including vitamin B6 and thiamine. Their health effects may include weight loss benefits, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and improved gut, eye, and blood vessel health.

Is there a downside to eating pistachios? ›

Consumption of pistachios in excess can increase the risk of gout due to the presence of purine. Roasted pistachios contain acrylamide which can have a noxious effect on the nervous system. When eaten in excess, pistachios can impair the digestion process and cause constipation.

Can we drink water after eating pistachios? ›

Answer: Yes you can drink water after eating pistachios because, it can be soaked in water before eating to make it easy to digest.

What is the healthiest nut to eat? ›

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.

What is the best time to eat pistachios? ›

Eat a handful of pistachios before bedtime for sound sleep

It also improves the quality of our sleep which is mandatory for healing all physical, mental- health and Auto-immune disorders. Eating pistachios also provides our bodies with magnesium and Vitamin B6.

Which nut is best for baking? ›

Walnuts have a mild, buttery flavor that makes them perfect for baking into cookies and cakes.

What is the healthiest way to eat pistachios? ›

Eating them from the shell can help you keep portions in check. “Having to take off the shell takes time and effort and slows down the eating process, which can help with mindfulness and weight,” says Kirkpatrick. Companies including Wonderful Pistachios also sell single-serving packets.

How to prep pistachios for baking? ›

The best way to prepare pistachios for baking is to roast them. Roasting pistachios enhances their flavor and adds a delicious nuttiness to baked goods.

Do you take the shells off pistachios? ›

Once shelled, pistachios have a thin skin on the nut that sometimes needs to be removed for the purposes of a recipe. The skin is perfectly edible, but it can mar the texture of pureed pistachios, and it can take away from the nut's lovely, distinctive green color.

How do you keep pistachios green when baking? ›

To preserve their green color, sprinkle pistachios on baked goods after baking—on top of a cheesecake or pear tart, for example. Or use them in items like shortbread that bake at a relatively low temperature, minimizing the color change.

Are pistachios hard on the digestive system? ›

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. If so, you may have: Bloating.

Can eating too much nuts cause stomach problems? ›

Nuts. The high fat and fibre content in nuts means that it takes a while for them to be properly digested. As they spend a lot of time working through the digestive system, the risk for gas and bloating is markedly increased. Nuts also contain tannins which can present problems like nausea for some.

Are pistachios good for your belly? ›

Pistachios provide insoluble and soluble fiber, both of which benefit gut health. Insoluble fiber helps to keep bowel movements regular, and soluble fiber keeps stool soft and comfortable to pass and promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine.

Can you have a reaction to pistachios? ›

Causes of nut allergies

The proteins that trigger an allergic reaction can be present in a range of foods, and you may have an allergic reaction to foods containing that protein. For this reason, some people are allergic to the same trigger in cashews and pistachios. This is known as cross-reactivity.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ray Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 5752

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ray Christiansen

Birthday: 1998-05-04

Address: Apt. 814 34339 Sauer Islands, Hirtheville, GA 02446-8771

Phone: +337636892828

Job: Lead Hospitality Designer

Hobby: Urban exploration, Tai chi, Lockpicking, Fashion, Gunsmithing, Pottery, Geocaching

Introduction: My name is Ray Christiansen, I am a fair, good, cute, gentle, vast, glamorous, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.