Mediterranean Diet: Pistachio Recipes

The Mediterranean diet is widely considered the cleanest, healthiest and most balanced in the world. Rather than relying on faddy trends and unsustainable eating habits, the Mediterranean approach relies on the quality of natural products, seasonality and the freshness of ingredients. It promotes health from the inside out.

 

Pistachios

Pistachios are one of the most important ingredients in the Sicilian kitchen. They're a great source of healthy fats, fiber, protein, antioxidants and various nutrients, including vitamin B6 and potassium. Given their nutritious benefits, we've created a Mediterranean three-course meal with pistachios.

 

Starter: Italian Lupini Bean Salad with Crushed Pistachios

Ingredients:

½ cup baby spinach

1 cup Lupini beans

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

black pepper

1 ½ tbsp pistachios

Method:

1. Place the spinach at the bottom of a small bowl and set aside.

2. In another small bowl, mix together the beans, mustard, olive oil, red pepper, and black pepper.

3. Finish by sprinkling the crushed pistachios on top.

 

Main: Sicilian Pistachio Pesto

Ingredients:

100g pistachios

1/2 garlic clove

1 handful basil leaves

1 handful mint leaves

10g grated Parmesan

60ml olive oil

sea salt flakes

freshly ground black pepper

lemon juice

Method:

1. Add the pistachios, garlic and herbs to a food processor.

2. Mix in the oil and Parmesan and stir until thoroughly combined.

3. Taste and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Dessert: Pistachio Amaretti

 

Ingredients:

1 large egg

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp Amaretto or vanilla extract

1 cup almond flour

3/4 cup ground pistachios

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp icing sugar

2 tbsp chopped pistachios, for coating

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 165C and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, beat the egg and sugar. Stir in the Amaretto or vanilla extract.

3. Add the almond flour, ground pistachios and baking powder and stir until combined and a firm dough is formed.

4. Shape the dough into balls, roughly the size of a tablespoon. Lightly sprinkle in the icing sugar, shaking off any excess.

5. Press down lightly on the chopped pistachios and place the balls with the pistachios facing up on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat the same steps again for each Amaretti ball.

6. Bake for 16 minutes until they're golden.

7. Transfer to rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

 

In the same way that eating pistachios promotes good health from the inside out, we also promote good skin from the outside in by applying Pistachio Oil topically. The following products contain Pistachio Oil:

Pistachio Face Mask

Pistachio Lip Balm

Pistachio Face Oil