If you’ve never had them, pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees, specifically pine cones, and they’re crunchy, nutty, and have a slight sweetness to them that’ll remind you of cashews. And you can use these tiny, tasty treats on practically everything. Want something fresh and green for lunch? Make yourself an avocado pine nut salad. Looking for a quick and easy side dish that pairs well with everything? Whip up a thing of green beans with pine nuts. You can even make toasted pine nuts and eat them for a high-protein snack. Whatever you’re craving, chances are you can find a way to work pine nuts into the meal. The following pine nut recipes are some of my all-time favorites.
20+ BEST Pine Nut Recipe Ideas
1. Toasted Pine Nuts
Toasted pine nuts are a crunchy, sweet, and nutty snack that’s low in carbs and calories and extremely high in flavor. You can make these to snack on throughout the day or to add them to other dishes. Either way, this site gives you three different ways to make them.
2. Spaghetti with Garlicky Spinach, Parmesan, and Toasted Pine Nuts
When you think of spaghetti, you probably picture it covered in chunky red tomato sauce, maybe even with gooey cheese added, as well. But this recipe is proof positive that spaghetti doesn’t need any of that stuff to be delicious. With nothing but the noodles, some spinach, oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, butter, pine nuts, parmesan, and sea salt, you can make a light, fresh spaghetti dish that’s out of this world.
3. Roasted Mushrooms and Pine Nuts
If you’re looking for something a bit richer and more filling, try these roasted mushrooms instead. They’re tender, flavorful, and wonderfully herby. The pine nuts add a spectacular bit of crunch, and the whole thing takes only 45 minutes to make. Whether you’re making yourself a stand-alone lunch or the perfect side dish for steak, this recipe is fantastic.
4. Fresh Basil Pesto
This one is less of a dish and more of a condiment, but you just cannot beat homemade pesto, and this recipe is one of my favorites. It takes only 15 minutes to make, and you’ll use seven simple ingredients: basil leaves, parmesan (or romano) cheese, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and black pepper. It has a fresh, bright flavor that pairs well with sandwiches, pizza, or anything else you want to put it on and enjoy.
5. Orecchiette with Wilted Spinach, Kale and Toasted Pine Nuts
This simple, 15-minute meal is quick and easy to prepare, and it somehow manages to be crunchy, creamy, buttery, nutty, and earthy all at once. If you’re looking for a light dinner that’ll delight your tastebuds and not weigh you down, this orecchiette dish is the one for you.
6. Yogurt Parfait
I love yogurt parfaits. They’re just far too easy, delicious, and convenient not to have for breakfast at least a couple of times a week. This one takes 5 minutes to make and combines plain yogurt, fresh (or frozen) fruit, pomegranate arils, pine nuts, honey (or maple syrup), and rich, bold spices like ginger and cardamom. You’ll be shocked at how much flavor you can pack into this one small parfait. You’ll pack 24 grams of protein in it, too. There isn’t a much better way to start your day.
7. Pine Nut-Crusted Tilapia
This tilapia recipe is so good that you’ll probably like it even if you’re not a fan of tilapia. It’s seasoned perfectly with dill, lemon pepper, garlic, lemon juice, butter, and honey. Plus, it has a delightfully crispy pine nut coating that gives it crunch and flavor. And did I mention it only takes 25 minutes to make?
8. Sun-Dried Tomato Cheese Ball
This cheesy, tomatoey cheese ball is herby, cheesy, creamy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside. It’s phenomenal whether you serve it with veggie sticks, crackers, or something else.
9. Farfalle with Feta, Arugula, and Pine Nuts
This light, zesty pasta dish features the intense flavors of feta cheese, red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic, crushed red pepper, and more. The pasta is tender and melt-in-your-mouth good, while the pine nuts add texture and help tone down the bite of the feta. It’s a full-flavored dish that’s more filling than it looks.
10. Basmati Rice with Pine Nuts
If you’re looking for something a bit simpler and with a rich, earthy flavor, this basmati rice recipe is an excellent option. It takes a little over half an hour to make, but you’ll need to soak the rice for at least 2 hours before you cook it. You’ll need only the rice, vegetable stock, a yellow onion, garlic, olive oil, and pine nuts as far as ingredients go, and you can make the whole dish in one pan.
11. Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts
Whenever I’m in the mood for something fresh, clean, and healthy, I always turn to a salad, and this tart and tangy lemon arugula is a particular favorite. It’s cheesy, crunchy, and green to the max! The honey-lemon dressing is also unimaginably delicious.
12. Avocado Pine Nut Salad
If you prefer your salads a little less zesty and with a few more veggies, use this recipe instead. It takes 15 minutes to pull together, and there’s no cooking involved. It combines green and red lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes, avocados, pine nuts, and shredded mozzarella. The Dijon mustard dressing is less bright and tangy than the honey-lemon dressing above, but it still gives the salad a marvelous taste.
13. Moroccan Couscous
The toasted crunch of the pine nuts in this fluffy bed of couscous is a lovely contradiction that’ll excite your senses. The spiced, herb flavor doesn’t hurt, either. I always go a bit heavier on the shallots (because I love shallots) and pine nuts (because I love the crunch) and cut back just a bit on the raisins (because I’m not a huge fan). Even as-written, though, this recipe for Moroccan couscous is pretty great. And once you make it a time or two, you can decide how you want to adjust your ingredients, as well.
14. Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Pine Nuts
If you’re looking for a healthy, low-carb snack that’s flavorful and filling, try this recipe for roasted cauliflower and pine nuts. Each piece of cauliflower is coated with a delightful mixture of herbs and spices, garlic being the most prominent, and the pine nuts are just as spiced and scrumptious. Plus, they’ll only take 30 minutes to make.
15. Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts
I can’t lie; this salad is a bit of an acquired taste. Not everyone loves beets, and neither do they appreciate goat cheese. This easy-to-make, 15-minute salad definitely has some bold, unique flavors in it, but if you’re a fan of them, you’ll love the way they’re put together in this recipe.
16. Parmesan Oregano Pine Nut Chips
Of all the low-carb and keto-friendly homemade chip recipes out there, this one is probably my favorite. These chips – perhaps more appropriately called crisps – are light, airy, and spectacularly crunchy. They’re also super yummy and simple to prepare. You’ll make them with parmesan, flour, oregano, and pine nuts, and it should take less than 20 minutes.
17. Zucchini Salad with Lemon, Feta, and Pine Nuts
This fresh, raw salad shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to make, but you’ll want to let the zucchini sit in the marinade for at least an hour and a half before serving them. It’s a bright, tangy side dish that features the flavors of lemon, feta, garlic, and basil. Like the beet salad above, this is one of those loud, brilliantly flavorful dishes that will not suit everyone’s tastes.
18. Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes with Pine Nuts
This simple tomato, pine nut, and herbs dish is light, and it tastes a lot like one of my favorite meals from when I spent time in China. The tomatoes and pine nuts complement one another flawlessly, and the garlic enhances rather than drowns out their flavors. It’s a juicy, refreshing treat that’s ideal for summer.
19. Pine Nut Seeded Crackers
As you’ve probably already realized, pine nuts are excellent for making low-carb snacks, and these pine nut seeded crackers are just one more example of that. Each serving has only a single carb, but the crackers are crunchy, full of flavor, and perfect for dipping into things or topping with other things (just like real, carb-heavy crackers!). You’ll make them with pine nuts, salt, water, olive oil, honey, and the following seeds:
PumpkinSunflowerChiaSesameBlack sesameFlaxseed
If you can already taste them just from reading this recipe, you’re not alone. These things are awesome.
20. Green Beans with Pine Nuts
I’m pretty fond of green beans anyway, but hand me a plate of green beans with pine nuts in them, and don’t expect me to hand back anything other than an empty plate. They have all the wonderful, garden-fresh flavor of garlic green beans, but you’ll also add pine nuts, parmesan, and a few other ingredients for a truly unbeatable and healthy side dish.
21. Olive Oil Pine Nut Ice Cream
Olive oil pine nut ice cream may sound like a swing and a miss, but don’t discount it before you give it a try. It’s actually quite good – lightly sweet with a delicate flavor and plenty of crunchy yumminess peppered throughout the creaminess of the ice cream.
22. Pignoli Nut Pie
This decadent pie has the perfect golden-brown crust and a savory, super sweet filling that’s insanely good. Think pecan pie, only made with pine nuts instead of pecans. It’s every bit as buttery, sugary, and delectable.
23. Italian Pignoli Cookies
These six-ingredient Italian cookies are crumbly, crunchy, and covered in powdered sugar. What more do you really need to know? They’re amazing, and they take only 30 minutes to make. Trust me, just give them a try. You won’t regret it. Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 1 No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
Share on social media: Let us improve this post!
