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Pistachios are a type of nut that is a part of the cashew family. These nuts are believed to have originated in West Central Asia around 3000 years ago. Initially, the cultivation of these nuts was limited to West Central Asia. Now pistachio is grown in different parts of the world, such as the US, Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran. Currently, India doesn't have any substantial production of pistachio in the country but pistachio is one of the most popular nuts in India and people like to use it to garnish different types of desserts.
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Taste-wise, pistachio is a bit savoury and has a very nutty and earthy flavour. Some varieties of pistachio may even have a mild flavour with a hint of sweetness. Here is how one can use pistachios to make different types of dishes in day-to-day life.
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* Pistachio Nut Butter
A pistachio nut butter is a flavourful and blended smooth paste that can be used as a spread on the top of sandwiches, toasts, and even added to fruit salads. This variety of nut butter is perfect for people who want to keep on experimenting with their breakfast toast and also would like to have something healthy in the morning. This nut butter is free from any kind of preservatives and sugar and made by blending some pistachios with a little bit of heavy cream and some black pepper and salt.
* Nut Mix
The most simple and direct way of having pistachios is to simply make a trail by mixing almonds, walnuts, cashews, and a lot of pistachios. In this mixture, one can add some green berries, apricots, and raisins to enhance the nutritional value. On the top one simply has to add some coconut cream with some Chia seeds and flax seeds to make a quick snack. The snack is a lot healthier as compared to processed chips and is also quite filling.
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* Protein Bar
Most of the protein bars are made from walnuts and almonds. Pistachio is not a very common ingredient or a flavour that one can find in protein bars. However, incorporating some pistachios in a homemade protein bar is not just convenient but also quite healthy. One can make a pistachio protein bar by combining some peanut butter, caramel, and chopped pistachio with almonds and raisins, along with some milk. The mixture of these ingredients has to be put inside moulds and refrigerated till they are set properly.
* Topping For A Yoghurt Bowl
One can simply elevate a regular oatmeal or a yoghurt bowl by adding some pistachios along with some seeds on the top. Pistachios help add an extra layer of crunch and texture to the yoghurt and also help boost the nutritional profile of the oatmeal. Pistachios are great in terms of fibre, protein and healthy fats, all of which are good for the body. One can simply add some fresh foods along with pistachios to make the yoghurt bowl taste even better and fresher.
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* Stir Fry
Many people like to add some cashews or peanuts in savoury dishes such as stir fry vegetables which are different types of other dry dishes. While cashews and peanuts are a great addition, one can also try using some pistachios for adding a satisfying crunch to the vegetables as they go well with different types of ingredients like chicken, shrimp, and tofu, and add so much flavour to a particular dish because of their earthy and nutty notes.
* Salad Dressing
A salad is one of the healthiest means that one can have at lunch or dinner. But a salad doesn't mean not eating the right quantity of food or compromising on nutrients just for calorie deficit. There are a lot of ways through which one can have a satisfying meal that is also quite low in calories. Different types of nuts such as almonds, cashews, and pistachios are a great addition to salads as they make it crunchier and also enhance the taste. Pistachios when combined with garlic, lemon juice, fresh herbs, chickpeas, chicken and olive oil taste really good for a salad.
* Pistachio Smoothie
A pista shake or pista-flavoured milk is popular in India. It is perfect for people who do not like the taste of regular milk and want to make it tastier but also not drink something unhealthy. Instead of adding chocolate powder and different types of artificial flavouring ingredients, one can take a handful of pistachios along with milk and blend them in a food processor. Adding some honey for sweetness can be considered by people who like their milk to be extra sweet.
