{"id":15278,"date":"2014-02-26T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-26T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=15278"},"modified":"2022-08-16T13:44:15","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T20:44:15","slug":"national-pistachio-day-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/national-pistachio-day-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"National Pistachio Day Recipes"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n The power of the pistachio is mine, but it can be yours too. One of my favorite nuts, I’m drawn to its bright green gorgeousness in a sea of brown nuts, but also to its attractive nutritional cred and the sheer fun of cracking and discarding the shell – kind of like peanuts at a ball game, only more sophisticated \ud83d\ude42 And way more sophisticated when you riff on a David Lebovitz recipe for lightened-up chicken pat\u00e9 with apples and create pistachio crusted chicken pat\u00e9\u00a0truffles<\/a> (pictured above)!<\/p>\n To celebrate National Pistachio Day, the California Farm Water Coalition<\/a> gifted me with a bag of my favorite nuts and some pistachio cranberry treats from\u00a0Setton Pistachio<\/a>. Setton Farms\u00a0is one of America\u2019s largest pistachio growers and processors with ownership in over 10,000 acres of planted pistachio trees \u00a0located in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley. As a family owned and operated pistachio company since the mid 80\u2019s,\u00a0Setton attends to each detail of growing, harvesting, processing, manufacturing and packaging. Setton Pistachio operates one of the most sophisticated food-safety programs in the entire nut industry\u00a0pistachios and their\u00a0pistachios are widely regarded as \u201cAmerica\u2019s Best Tasting Pistachios\u201d because of their great taste and superior quality.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Grilled Pluots with Fresh Mozzarella<\/p>\n If you \u00a0haven’t fallen in love with pistachios yet, here are a few facts that may persuade you:<\/p>\n 1. One serving of pistachios equals 49 nuts – more per serving than any other tree nut! Which is good, because it’s hard to stop once you start munching.<\/p>\n 2. When nuts, like pistachios, are eaten on a regular basis, they help lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol.<\/p>\n 3. Pistachios contain only 7 grams of carbohydrates, making them a great low carb food.<\/p>\n 4. When pistachios are eaten with high-carbohydrate foods, it may result in lower than expected blood sugar levels, an important factor in reducing risk of \u00a0diabetes.<\/p>\n 5. Pistachios naturally contain no cholesterol or trans fats.<\/p>\n 6. Pistachios are packed with fiber – one serving contains as much fiber as half a cup of broccoli.<\/p>\n 7. Pistachios, with 7 grams of protein, can serve as a great alternative to meat or beans.<\/p>\n So I ask you, what’s not to like about \u00a0pistachios? Unless your allergic \ud83d\ude41 \u00a0Full of vitamins and minerals, a heart-healthy power food that, added to your daily diet, helps support your overall health and well-being. Plus, a delicious snack that may actually lower your risk of many health-related conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. So get crackin’ – or if nut cracking is not your idea of \u00a0fun, there’s always the packaged\u00a0nut meats where its all done for you \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0Zucchini and Pepper Tian with Pistachios<\/a><\/p>\n For me, satisfying food always has to have a crunchy element and I sprinkle nearly any dish, from oatmeal to salad, with seeds or nuts. You can go simple, like the Grilled Pluots with Fresh Mozzarella Salad <\/a>(above) or elegant, like the Chicken Pat\u00e9 Truffles in the opening photo. Today, I’m sharing an easy side dish with a Middle Eastern flair: Forbidden Rice with Pistachios, Pomegranates and Dried Fruit which adds an exotic touch to any protein or makes a lovely vegan or vegetarian meal when paired with a green salad.<\/p>\n