Pine Nuts: Vegan Cooking Guide
Pine nuts are the tender seeds of pine trees, with a buttery, mildly sweet flavour. They're essential in classic pesto but equally at home scattered over pasta, roasted vegetables and grain salads. Light toasting deepens their flavour dramatically.
How to Use Pine Nuts
Toast in a dry pan over medium heat for 2 - 3 minutes, shaking constantly - they burn in seconds. Add to pesto, scatter over pasta, or fold into stuffed vegetables just before serving.
Nutrition
High in vitamin E, manganese and magnesium; 14g protein per 100g with mostly monounsaturated fats.
Chef's Tips
- Store in the freezer - pine nuts go rancid quickly at room temperature due to their high oil content.
- Toast a large batch at once and keep in a sealed jar - they stay fresh for weeks in the fridge.
- For a nut-free alternative, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds provide a similar texture at a fraction of the price.
→ Find the best substitutes for pine nuts
Vegan Recipes Using Pine Nuts
Learn to cook with pine nuts on video
Our Cook Like A Pro course covers vegan cooking techniques including how to get the most from plant-based proteins, flavour bases and dairy alternatives. Watch step-by-step with chefs Rupert Worden and Lisa Hinze.
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