Pistachio Paste and Butter | American Pistachio Growers (2024)

When finely ground, pistachios make a versatile flour that opens a world of opportunity in baking. Pistachio cupcakes, anyone?

If you rely on pistachio paste to flavor ice cream, buttercream, or pastry filling, don’t you want to use the real thing? The fact is, a lot of so-called pistachio paste isn’t 100 percent pistachio. Some manufacturers sell a “pistachio” paste made from bitter almond paste with green food coloring. Use this product and your desserts will have the hue that pistachio fans expect but lack that buttery pistachio taste.

Fortunately, it’s a cinch to make your own pistachio paste and pistachio butter (the oily paste with no sweetener added). And you’ll reap many benefits. Do it yourself and you can use California-grown pistachios. (Others typically use Iranian or Italian nuts.) Plus, you can control the amount of sweetener you add—or add none at all—and you can prepare the paste or butter as needed so it doesn’t go stale.

Pistachio Paste: Make the Real Thing

To blanch or not to blanch? For the brightest green color, blanch the nuts first, then skin them. Just drop the nuts into a pot of boiling water briefly, drain, and rub them between dishtowels to remove the skin. If you don’t mind a slightly darker color, omit the blanching and leave the skins on. The skins contain antioxidants, so bear that in mind.

See Also
FAQ

Pistachio butter, like other nut butters, is made by finely grinding shelled pistachios until they release their oil and produce a smooth, creamy paste. All you need is a food processor. Be sure to toast the nuts lightly first and grind them while warm to unleash their natural oil. Scrape down the work bowl and continue grinding until the nut butter is silky smooth. Add a pinch of salt to heighten flavor if desired.

For pistachio paste, add sweetener to taste. Some commercial pistachio pastes contain no sweetener, but some do. By making your own, you know the exact sugar percentage and can standardize recipes accordingly. If you add food coloring, be cautious; the natural appearance of a paste made with California pistachios can be a selling point.

For short-term use—within a couple of weeks—you don’t need to refrigerate pistachio butter or paste. If refrigerated, it will keep indefinitely.

Use pistachio butter or paste:

  • As a spread for sweet or savory crepes. Spread dessert crepes with pistachio butter and honey, and fold and top with yogurt or vanilla ice cream.
  • As a topping for crostini
  • As a flavoring for ice cream, mousses, and buttercreams
  • As a croissant or Danish filling
  • As a filling for chocolate confections
  • In a frangipane filling for fruit tarts
  • In a gianduja filling

Video demo: Gianduja

Chef Stephen Durfee demonstrates the simple method for a food-processor pistachio paste.

Pistachio Paste and Butter | American Pistachio Growers (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between pistachio paste and pistachio butter? ›

Differences Between the Paste and Butter of Pistachio

In addition to pistachio, flavoring has been used in the composition of pistachio butter. But in pistachio paste, you see 100% of pistachios. This purity is the advantage of pistachio paste over pistachio butter. That is why it is used as a natural flavor.

What is the shelf life of pistachio paste? ›

Shelf life: Best within 6 months. Preservation: Use pistachio paste in confectionary shortly after opening. Packaging: 1kg and 3kg tins. Packed: 6 tins of 1 kg to a carton or 2 tins of 3 kg to a carton.

Is pistachio paste healthy? ›

A large amount of protein makes pistachio paste perfect for a vegetarian diet and in an athlete's diet. Pistachio paste increases concentration, has a positive effect on eyesight and has anti-cancer properties.

Why is pistachio butter so expensive? ›

Since our pistachio butters are a 100% pistachio with no added oils or preservatives/fillers, our pistachio butter is a little more expensive.

Which type of pistachio is best? ›

Since Iran is the most famous country for exporting the best pista, Iranian pistachios are expensive. Green-peeled pistachio kernel is known as one of the most expensive pistachio types. Iranian pistachios are vastly considered the best pistachios in the world.

How long does pistachio butter last? ›

However, once opened, 6-8 months in the refrigerator is about the limit. Homemade pistachio butter is a bit different. It needs to be stored in the refrigerator immediately after it has been made, and it can last around a month before it starts to taste a little less than fresh.

Can pistachios go bad? ›

Pistachio kernels only stay fresh for about 3 months in the pantry, so storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator is preferred. Check an unopened package for a “use by” date to ensure the nuts aren't already old when you purchase them.

Why is my pistachio paste Brown? ›

Yes, not only their shells but also their skins. The skins are brownish-redish and if you leave them on the paste ends up being brown and bitter, too. I highly recommend buying already shelled pistachios * for that or you'll add another 30 minutes to the workflow.

How old can you eat pistachios? ›

36 months old +:

Just remember that nuts and nut pieces are considered choking hazards until age 4 and even beyond by all governing medical bodies. Pistachios are particularly risky and challenging to eat as they are firm, difficult to take a bite out of, have a hard outer shell, and are small and round.

Are too many pistachios bad for you? ›

Pistachios contain high amounts of fibre. Therefore consuming pistachios in large quantities will disturb your digestion and cause diarrhoea, cramps, abdominal pain, intestinal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. Fructan present in pistachios can also cause allergies in the gastrointestinal tract.

How many pistachios can you have a day? ›

And even though they have health benefits, it's always a good idea not to overdo it. About a handful (1.5 ounces) is a good amount to shoot for each day. If you're concerned about limiting your pistachio intake, go for the kind that have shells on them instead of the pre-shelled ones.

What do you eat pistachio paste with? ›

Use pistachio butter or paste:
  1. As a spread for sweet or savory crepes. ...
  2. As a topping for crostini.
  3. As a flavoring for ice cream, mousses, and buttercreams.
  4. As a croissant or Danish filling.
  5. As a filling for chocolate confections.
  6. In a frangipane filling for fruit tarts.
  7. In a gianduja filling.

Can dogs eat pistachios? ›

Pistachios are not toxic for dogs, but the high fat and salt content can make them dangerous. For this reason, it is typically not recommended to give them to your dog, and to instead give them a healthy dog treat.

Is pistachio butter healthy? ›

Pistachio butter is rich in healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, as well as essential vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, zinc, and copper.

What is the healthiest nut butter in the world? ›

If you want to up your Omega-3 intake, try walnut butter. Walnuts are a great source of Omega-3s, Crumble Smith says, which help increase high-density lipoprotein (or “good cholesterol”) levels. High levels of HDL are associated with a lower risk of heart disease and strokes.

What do you use pistachio paste for? ›

Use pistachio butter or paste:
  1. As a spread for sweet or savory crepes. ...
  2. As a topping for crostini.
  3. As a flavoring for ice cream, mousses, and buttercreams.
  4. As a croissant or Danish filling.
  5. As a filling for chocolate confections.
  6. In a frangipane filling for fruit tarts.
  7. In a gianduja filling.

What is the difference between nut butter and paste? ›

Pastes are generally products that are finely ground, and contain sugar and other ingredients. Nut butters are produced using primarily the nuts and nut oils, sometimes with sugar and emulsifiers added.

What is pistachio butter made of? ›

Pistachio butter may not be as ubiquitous as peanut or almond butter, but it is by far my favorite of all the nut butters, with its gorgeous green hue and unique nutty flavor. Making your own is surprisingly easy: all you need are pistachios and a food processor or high-powdered blender.

Is pistachio butter any good? ›

It's smooth and creamy in texture; rich and nutty in flavor. Pistachios are packed with healthy fats, fiber and potassium, with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Pistachio butter is a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury meals and snacks!

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Golda Nolan II

Last Updated:

Views: 6684

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Golda Nolan II

Birthday: 1998-05-14

Address: Suite 369 9754 Roberts Pines, West Benitaburgh, NM 69180-7958

Phone: +522993866487

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Shopping, Quilting, Cooking, Homebrewing, Leather crafting, Pet

Introduction: My name is Golda Nolan II, I am a thoughtful, clever, cute, jolly, brave, powerful, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.