Pistachio Paste

Free

Difficulty: Low
Time: 10 minutes (plus roasting time about 20 min)
Quantity: 500 g
Type: Sauces and Spreads
Dietary requirements: Gluten-free Cream-free Sugar-free Vegan

Ingredients

500 g pistachio

Pistachio paste is a semi-fluid paste made 100% from pistachios; there are no other ingredients. The pistachios are roasted and then blended until a semi-fluid mixture is obtained. It can be purchased ready-made or made at home; it can also be found under the name "pistachio butter" or "pistachio cream" (this applies to all types of nuts). If you buy it, pay close attention that it contains no other ingredients, because in general Pastes and Butters are 100% nuts, but Creams often contain other ingredients such as powdered milk, oil, lecithin, sugar, etc., because they are intended to be eaten as-is, whereas 100% Paste is very concentrated and cloying on the palate if eaten alone. It can be used to flavor creams, mousses, ice creams, etc. Try for example this pistachio pastry cream recipe, this bavarois or this mousse and this pistachio ice cream.

Method

Preheat the fan oven to 180˚C. Prepare a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone mat. Pour the pistachios onto it. Roast for about 10–15 minutes, occasionally moving the pistachios with a spoon. Transfer to a powerful food processor.

Run at maximum power. Now it will take several minutes to reach the final result. First the pistachios will be ground into a coarse powder. Then a paste will begin to form; the paste will still be dense and coarse at this stage, it is not ready — continue blending to release all the oil contained in the pistachios.

When the paste becomes semi-fluid it is ready. Transfer it to a container.

Storage

Store in a closed container for several months away from light and heat sources, until the fat goes rancid or until the pistachios used have expired. If the fat separates and you see a layer of oil on the surface, simply blend again; it is not spoiled, this is completely normal.

Tips

You can make this paste with all types of nuts; it will be more or less fluid depending on the amount of fat contained in the nuts used. It is recommended to read these articles: - which ingredients to use - where to buy pastry ingredients and products