Pine Nuts are generally known as the most expensive nut you can buy, but HOP has your back as we offer the best prices on pine nuts offline and on! These teardrop-shaped nuts are delicious and often used in making pesto, as a salad-topper and in cooking in many international dishes. Pine nuts are one of the more expensive nuts on the market because of the time required to grow the nuts and the effort to harvest the seeds from their protective encasement.

When eaten raw pignolias have a soft bite and most have a sweet, buttery flavor.

Pine nuts are very commonly eaten throughout Europe, Asia and now the United States. They can be found whole in meat, fish, salads or baked goods. Additionally, crushed or powdered pine nuts are added to pesto and other dishes.

Pignoli Cookies (Amaretti con Pignoli) are an Italian classic. They’re a holiday favorite that’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.

Ingredients:

• Almond paste
• Sugar – granulated white sugar
• Egg whites
• Pine nuts (Pignoli) – for rolling. The pine nuts become golden and crispy during baking so there’s no need to toast them ahead of time.

Directions:

1. Break up the almond paste into 1-inch pieces and put it in the bowl of a food processor. Add the sugar and salt and pulse until it’s combined, about 30 seconds and resembles cornmeal.
2. Add the egg whites and process until a smooth dough forms, about 30 seconds. The dough will be wet and sticky, but you will be able to roll it into balls between your hands.
3. Roll the dough into balls then into the pine nuts. The stickiness of the dough will help the nuts stick.
4. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the nuts are starting to turn golden about 15-18 minutes. Don’t overbake.