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COSTCO CONNECTION
You ’ ll find in-shell and shelled roasted , seasoned pistachios in Costco warehouses . Grocery Delivery is available at Costco . co . uk .
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One of the oldest flowering nut trees , pistachios have been cultivated in Central Asia and the Middle East for centuries . The Queen of Sheba loved them so much she decreed pistachios a food fit only for royalty . These days , pistachios are much more widely enjoyed and cultivated . And the United States is No . 1 in global commercial pistachio production . Pistachios , which are related to cashews , are technically seeds , though they ’ re usually called nuts . However you reference them , they ’ re highly nutritious and a good source of protein for vegans and vegetarians .
“ Pistachios are one of the few plant-based ‘ complete proteins ’, ” says Judy Hirigoyen , vice president of global marketing for the American Pistachio Growers . “ Meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids [ that ] are usually found in animal proteins .”
High in fibre and healthy fats , pistachios also contain vitamins , minerals , antioxidants and phytochemicals .
Delicately flavoured pistachios are good for much more than snacking . “ Chefs use pistachio kernels in a variety of ways ,” Hirigoyen says . “ In everything from appetisers all the way through to desserts .”
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Crushed pistachios make an excellent crumb coating for fish , chicken or pork chops . Whole pistachios can be tossed into salads , added to granola or yogurt , or used as a garnish on soups , stir-fries or even dips .
Pistachio butter is terrific on pancakes or crépes , crostini or toast . Use pistachios as a pie crust or instead of pine nuts in your next pesto . Pistachios can be the main protein source in a veggie burger , the key ingredient in biscotti or a delicious way to flavour ice cream , halvah , cakes or clafoutis .
Pistachios come in a variety of forms , including shelled or unshelled and roasted . Roasted pistachios make a quick , convenient garnish for soups , salads and main courses .
Store pistachios in an airtight container in a cool , dark place , ideally the fridge or freezer . Keep them away from strongly flavoured foods like fish , garlic or onions to prevent them from absorbing odours , and use them within the year . Given how delicious they are , that won ’ t be difficult .
Laura Langston lives and writes in the Pacific Northwest ; one of her favourite afternoon snacks is homemade pistachio biscotti .
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