What is pistachio paste and where can I use it?

The secret ingredient in European butter cookies, ice creams, spumonis, and other wonderful confections is the pistachio paste with a combination of sweet and smooth balance.  Pistachio paste is a smooth and creamy paste made from 100% pistachios with no additives.

Pistachio is a perfect Nut, which is delicious and rich in flavour and high in nutrients like fibre, vitamins, and minerals.  If you wonder how to include pistachios in your everyday life, you should use their butter, paste, and powder instead of snacking on them.

If you are wondering about pistachio paste, you came to the right place.

In this article, we are going to tell you more about this beautiful paste.

You can find out more on our other blogs on making pistachio butter at home, 10 benefits researchers show about Pistachios, 5 best recipes for pistachio paste in different industries, Real Pistachio Cupcakes (Pistachio Paste Recipe), Pistachio Gelate (Pistachio Paste Recipe).

But first, let’s take a quick look at what we have here:

• What is pistachio paste?
• What does pistachio paste taste Like?
• The advantages of using pistachio paste:
• The disadvantages of using pistachio paste
• How to use pistachio paste?
• How to Store Pistachio Paste?
• How to make ice cream with pistachio paste?
• Conclusion

What is pistachio paste?

Pistachio paste is a food product produced from the milling and roasting raw pistachios; they typically use 100% pistachio kernel to prepare pistachio paste. The reason for choosing closed mouth pistachio is that it is healthier than other varieties. They call it paste because the pistachio oil is not removed during the production process, and the fat of the product is wholly retained so that the paste becomes buttery. It is also noteworthy that pistachio oil and grease are entirely cholesterol-free, so feel free to grab a spoon.

It is also an excellent sugar-free paste with a delicious pistachio flavour that is great for flavouring muffins, cakes, and all types of desserts. It is full of fibre and essential minerals, including iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. As a former sugar addict, I am still crazy about nuts, this is one of the reasons I am in love with pistachio paste, plus they are great in a plant-based kitchen, especially for vegans who are trying to improve their health.

Pastes are energy-efficient foods and are the best food for the body when it needs more energy, such as pistachio pastes.

Pistachio paste is made from 100% natural pistachios; it is less oily than pistachio butter and contains no salts, sugar or other ingredients.

What does Pistachio paste Taste Like?

Pistachio paste is a smooth, creamy mixture made through a multi-step process, making it more fluid, ultra-smooth, and mixable than pistachio butter.

This excellent paste has a rich, light, and unsweetened pistachio flavour with a very smooth texture. Once you take a spoon, you can feel a familiar roasty, fruity-floral pistachio base. Still, it takes on an almost juicy quality, with a natural sweet pistachio taste for structure.

It can be made as thin or thick as you need it. If you want it for baking, it is better to keep it lush with little to no moisture added. They are typically more affluent than pistachio nuts, making them ideal for making cakes, cookies, and savoury dishes.

The advantages of using pistachio paste:

Pistachio paste is made from 100% pistachios and has all the benefits and benefits of a pistachio nut; it has a good taste, is pasteurised, without any preservatives and additives, and is soft and uniform texture.

Due to its low humidity, this product has a high shelf life under normal conditions. It is also suitable for injection in a variety of devices used in the food industry.

Fixed and uniform quality, no use of preservatives and essential oils or thickeners, high shelf life and preserving physical properties over time, high heat resistance, pasteurisation and no external additives, usability in cake and muffins are the main distinguishing features of this product between similar products.

Pistachio paste has many uses in the production of various kinds of food. Including:

• Shelf-life
• Being fireproof
• Very good market and popularity due to the increasing popularity Consumers to natural products with no additives or preservatives.

In addition to these things, pistachio paste is made from 100% pistachio nuts; therefore, it includes all of its nutrition and health benefits. Such as:

• Heart health

Evidence has shown that pistachio intake can positively affect heart health by lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels.

• Weight management

A study provided its subjects with a 3-month diet of 500 calories deficit. The difference in diets was their pistachios (240 calories) or pretzels (220 calories) on the evening snack. Researchers found that while both groups lost weight due to the calorie deficit, the pistachio community had a more significant reduction in BMI and a decrease in triglyceride levels.

• Blood sugar controls

Studies have shown that pistachios consumption may reduce the risk of diabetes. Notably, lower levels of insulin and glucose were found in those with prediabetes after eating pistachios. One study found that when consumed with high carb foods such as pasta, white rice, or bread, pistachios may help blunt the spike in glucose levels.

• Gut Health

Research published in the British Journal of Medicine has shown that pistachios can benefit the gut and have a more significant impact than other nuts such as almonds. Results revealed that eating pistachios increased specific bacteria, which helped generate short-chain fatty acids for inflammation-fighting and reduced the number of lactic acid bacteria.

The disadvantages of using pistachio paste

Pistachio pastes are perfect for us, but at the same time, there are also some risks and side effects of eating too many pistachios, such as:

1- May promote Weight Gain

Eating pistachio pastes is so easy due to their delicious taste, so if you want to enjoy one spoon of pistachio paste, make sure you don’t eat too many. Pistachio pastes can be a healthy and delicious snack and ingredient, but only when we eat them in moderation.

2- May cause Gastrointestinal Problems

Pistachios and pistachio pastes contain a substance called Fructan, which is not generally dangerous but can be bothersome to sensitive to it.

People who are allergic to Fructans should avoid excessive consumption of pistachio because it can cause digestive problems such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and abdominal pain.

3- May Increase the Risk of Kidney Stones

Pistachios contain an average amount of oxalate of about 10 to 25 mg per ounce, and consuming them in large amounts may increase the risk of calcium oxalate and cystine kidney stones. So it would help if you ate pistachio paste in moderation.

4- May Cause Aflatoxin Allergy

Long-term consumption of aflatoxin-infected pistachios can increase cancer risk in animals and has also been linked to the risk of hepatitis B and liver cancer.

5- High Manganese Risk

Pistachio paste is a good source of manganese, which is an essential nutrient, however high levels of manganese are harmful to our health as it can cause headaches, tremors, appetite suppression, leg cramps, hallucinations, and neurotic disorders.

6- Too Much Fiber can be Harmful

Dietary fibre in pistachio paste is good for our stomachs and helps keep our digestive system healthy. Still, overeating fibre is inadequate for our stomachs and can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, malabsorption, intestinal discomfort, Irritable bowel syndrome and so on.

How to use pistachio paste?

The unique flavour and features of pistachio paste have made it accessible to be used in various applications in different industries such as culinary, chocolate, confectionery, and the dairy industry.

Pistachio paste is an organic nut paste with all-natural sweeteners, ideal for a delicious evening treat and can also be used as a spread or in pastries. It is most commonly used and trendy for its application in flavouring baked goods, ice cream, gelato, jams, pies, cakes or gourmet cooking. The natural freshness is brought out more in the Pistachio Paste, which gives a rich pistachio flavour to every meal and dessert. You can use them as:

• As a spread for sweet or savory crepes. Spread dessert crepes with pistachio paste and honey, and fold and top with vanilla ice-cream or yogurt.
• As a topping for crostini
• As a dressing for ice cream, buttercreams, and mousses
• As a croissant or Danish filling
• As a filling for chocolate candies
• In a frangipane filling for fruit tarts
• In a giandujadressing

Pistachio pastes are versatile and add creaminess, heart-healthy fats, fibre, and protein that often aren’t found in regular nut butter and recipes. We suggest you eat them in moderation, as they can serve as a healthful way to add richness to any dish or a satisfying snack on their own.

How to Store Pistachio Paste?

Store pistachio paste in a sealed container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. We also provide these delicious pastes in PET jars, which will help you keep them for a longer time. You can support our product for 24 months; keep it in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. You can even freeze pistachio paste for up to 3 months and take it out of the freezer and consume just like you would the non-frozen one. It might also taste like a pistachio ice cream! But much healthier.

How to make an ice cream with pistachio paste?

Snacks made from pistachio paste are not just summed up in muffins and halva. Even ice creams can be made with pistachios. Pistachio ice cream is one of the delicious ice creams you can easily make at home with a simple and easy recipe.

Ingredients:

Pistachio paste: 1 cup

4 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar (split)

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup full milk

1/8 tbsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tbsp of almond extract

Instructions

1. In a high-powered mixer or mixer, set aside the pistachio paste and 1/4 cup sugar until well blended (try not mixing too much, you don’t want to turn it into a butter).
2. In a large saucepan, combine the heavy cream, milk, remaining sugar, and salt. Warm over medium-high until your mixture begins to bubble.
3. Add the pistachio mixture into the cream mixture.
4. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks.
5. Gently pour each cup of cream mixture into your egg yolks and stir constantly. Pour another cup of the cream mixture while stirring.
6. Pour the egg mixture with the remaining cream mixture into the saucepan again and heat for about 5 minutes until the mixture is slightly thickened and glued to the back of a wooden spoon.
7. Pour in the vanilla and almond extract and stir.
8. Put the bowl in the ice bath and let stand for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 2 hours, overnight.
10. After cooling, pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and allow it to work according to the instructions (about 30 minutes).
11. Pour the mixture into a 9×5 frying pan.
12. Cover and transfer to a freezer for 6 hours, up to overnight to freeze solid.

Conclusion

One of the simplest and most widely used pistachio products is its paste. This product is prepared and stored as a paste by controlling the fibre content of pistachios and crushing them. Pistachio paste has many uses, including its use in various chocolates, pastries, snacks, and desserts.

The best way to use pistachios for their flavour is to turn them into pastes. But remember, although they are high in healthy nutrients, they are still high in calories.