What Are Pine nuts and How Can I Use Them?

Pine nuts rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 360 recipes to cook with them.

What are pine nuts?

Pine nuts contain, depending on species, between 10–34% protein, with Stone Pine having the highest content.

When first extracted from the pine cone, they are covered with a hard shell (seed coat), thin in some species, thick in others. The nutrition is storembryo (sporophyte) in the centre. Although a nut in the culinary sense, in the botanical sense pine nuts are seeds; being a gymnosperm, they lack a carpel (fruit) outside.

The shell must be removed before the pine nut can be eaten. Unshelled pine nuts have a long shelf life if kept dry and refrigerated (at –5 to +2 °C); shelled nuts (and unshelled nuts in warm conditions) deteriorate rapidly, becoming rancid within a few weeks or even days in warm humid conditions.

Pine nuts are commercially available in shelled form, but due to poor storage, can have poor flavour and may be already rancid at the time of purchase. Consequently, pine nuts are often frozen to preserve their flavour.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find pine nuts: Pine nuts are usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Pine nuts are a member of the Nut and Seed Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

松子

British (UK) term

Pine nuts

en français

pignons de pin

en español

piñones

How much do pine nuts weigh?

Related

Nut and Seed Products

Recipes using pine nuts

There are 360 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Hummus Bi Tahini

Hummus bi tahini blends chickpeas with tahini, garlic, and lemon for the silkiest Lebanese-style dip. A baking soda boil softens the chickpeas, and toasted pine nuts crown the bowl.

Spinach, Sun-dried Tomato, Parmesan & Pine Nut Pasta Salad

Fresh spring spinach simply dressed with olive oil and umami-packed ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan and pine nuts with pasta to make it a simple yet sophisticated picnic friendly salad.

Cheesy Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

A cheesy and scrumptious side dish that goes perfect with mashed potatoes or any pasta dish.

Kale Salad with Pinenuts, Currants & Parmesan

In a surprising twist, Tuscan kale is served raw—and makes for a substantial and satisfying fall salad. Sweet currants (or raisins) soaked in tangy white balasmic vingegar and salty parmesan punctuate the dressed, shredded kale.

Cilantro Pesto

This cilantro pesto was so yummy, now I know what to do when I need to use up the fresh cilantro and parsley. I spread it on toast, pizza, even on crackers. So good!

Fresh Basil Pesto

Fresh basil pesto blitzed in the food processor with pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and extra-virgin olive oil. A bright, no-cook sauce for pasta, baked potatoes, or toasted baguette.

Broiled Tofu With Cilantro Pesto

This Tofu Gets It's Brillant Color and Delightful Flavor From An Easy Cilantro Pesto And Lime Juice!! Great Side Dish!!

Broiled Tofu With Cilantro Pesto

This Tofu Gets It's Brillant Color and Delightful Flavor From An Easy Cilantro Pesto And Lime Juice!! Great Side Dish!!

Heirloom Tomato Taco

This is called the Giuseppe Taco, we got the recipe from El Gastronomo Vagabundo taco truck.

Brussels Sprouts & Salami Pasta with Pine Nuts

This simply delicious dish takes no time to make, and it's an excellent way to add some nutrition-packed veggies and nuts into your diet.

Tomato Braised Brussel Sprouts with Pine Nuts & Croutons

Brussel sprouts are sauteed with browned mushrooms, braised in a tasty tomato sauce, and served with toasted pine nuts and homemade croutons.

Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Nut & Herb Butter

Beef Tenderloin with spicy Gorgonzola cheese and Pine Nut Herb Butter

Roasted Winter Squash Soup

On a cold day, let this delicious roasted winter squash soup warm up your whole body.

Lamb Meatballs, Persian Style

Persian lamb meatballs (kufteh) blend ground lamb with bulgur, pine nuts, fresh dill, mint, cumin, and coriander, then bake until juicy. A traditional Iranian main dish.

Orzo with Spinach & Pine Nuts (Milliken & Feniger)

Orzo, spinach and pine nuts, with garlic, tomatoes and a bit of romano cheese makes an elegant side dish.

Garlic Scape Pesto

Turn farmer's market garlic scapes into a fresh & brightly flavored green pesto. An early summer seasonal treat.

Mandrin Orange & Green Salad

Mandarin orange and mixed greens salad with toasted pine nuts and a white wine vinaigrette. A quick five-ingredient low-calorie side salad ready in 10 minutes.

Vegetarian Barley Casserole with Sun Dried Tomato & Basil Pesto

Barley risotto layered with sun-dried tomatoes and homemade basil pesto, enriched with ricotta and goat cheese, then baked until the pesto toasts golden. A vegetarian main that eats like a feast.

Pasta with Creamy Avocado Pesto

This avocado pesto is so creamy, tasty and refreshing. Toss the pasta with it to make a quick, wholesome and delicious week-day meal.

Greens with Roasted Corn & Pepper Salad

This is one of my favorites, and is always a hit when I bring it to potlucks.

Couscous with Fennel & Pinenuts

Quick, easy and delicious. Serve it as a side dish or a vegetarian main dish by using vegetable broth.

Lemon Pasta with Asparagus & Pine Nuts

You will not only love the bright colour of this dish, but also love the fragrant flavour. Use whole wheat pasta to add extra fibre. Enjoy!

Baba Ganoush with Pine Nuts

This was FANTASTIC!! I am not a huge fan of eggplant, but I recently tried baba ganoush at a restaurant. I really, really liked it so I had to find a recipe to try at home. This was a huge success. Very easy recipe to make and very, very tasty!!

Goat Cheese & Herbs Stuffed Baby Peppers

Fresh herbs and creamy goat cheese are stuffed into these fresh baby peppers, roasting develops lots of flavor, and the balsamic glaze adds the extra zing. It can be a tasty appetizer, or can be served with main course.

Israeli Couscous with Sauteed Mushrooms, Pine Nuts & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Earthy sauteed mushrooms, aromatic toasted pine nuts, chewy-sweet sun-dried tomatoes make this delicious and wholesome couscous salad. Enjoy it as a side dish or serve it as a tasty main meal.

Springtime Asparagus Salad

This vibrant salad highlights the fresh, earthy flavor of asparagus, complemented by a tangy, herbaceous vinaigrette and crunchy toasted pine nuts. The revised recipe clarifies preparation steps, ensures proper seasoning, and includes tips to avoid common pitfalls like overcooking asparagus or under-toasting nuts. Optional variations add flexibility for dietary preferences or flavor twists.

Smoky Spice Crusted Tofu

Very simple, quick and easy recipe. Might even coax some non-tofu people to give it a try. The slices are coated with a gentle smoky spice mixture and cooked in a blackened Cajun style to a lightly crispy exterior then finished with a honey lemon glaze. Great color and great flavor to an otherwise humble protein. Try to find smoked paprika if you can or add a few drops of liquid smoke to the marinade.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Brussel sprouts develop a deep flavor and retain their texture when roasted (no more mushy brussels sprouts). Then they're tossed with a flavorful quick and easy sun-dried tomato pesto.

Ginger Pine Nut Biscotti

These homemade biscotti will impress everyone, it is good for a breakfast or snack, with a cup of coffee or tea.

Balsamic Green Beans & Pepper

BBQ time, we want some simple and tasty vegetables as a side dish, this green beans and pepper recipe is a perfect fit.

Asiago Spinach Pesto

It's hard to believe a handful of spinach with a few simple ingredients can turn into something very special. You might want to make a double batch.

Braised Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) Sun-dried Tomatoes & Feta Cheese

Broccoli rabe or Rapini is slightly more bitter tasting than broccoli. Blanching one or two minutes in boiling water then refreshing in cold or ice water locks in the bright green color. This flavorful combination of Mediterranean seasonings really matches it well. If you can't find rapini you can use ordinary broccoli with equally outstanding results.

Roasted Mushrooms, Garlic & Pine Nuts with Pasta

Roasting concentrates the flavour and the roasted garlic doubles up on the depth of flavours. The portobello mushrooms add a meaty texture, and pine nuts add a nutty highlight.

Pan Seared Scallops with Cauliflower Puree & Crispy Bacon

This quick and easy dish will for sure wow your company with the elegant look and the delicious taste.

Orzo & Bell Pepper Salad with Edamame, Olives & Feta

Layers of textures and flavors in this salad. Crunchy and fresh bell peppers, sweet edamade, salty olives, feta and nutty pine nuts together make this salad amazingly tasty.

Stephen Lee's Zucchini-Pesto Muffins

These savory muffins are great for breakfast. They can be made in advance, frozen then defrosted in the microwave in a flash if you have a chance before they're gobbled up. The pesto, basil/garlic/pine nuts really create a wow factor. They're hard to resist.

Mini Quinoa Pancakes with Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Quinoa pancakes sound like an interesting way to cook quinoa, and these small pancakes turned out delicious. The lemon yogurt sauce was creamy, light and refreshing. These yummy quinoa pancakes can be served as an appetizer or a main dish.

Chard, Kale & Cheddar Phyllo Pie

It's the season of Swiss chard and kale. We got lots of these fresh leafy greens from our CSA farm, and I was trying to come out an idea to use them up, surfing the internet, found a recipe in New York Times, it's a chard and feta phyllo tart. Definitely got the inspiration, I used both chard and kale, instead of feta, I used cheddar; and I sauteed some fresh mushrooms and added some toasted pine nuts, which worked very well. Also, I used a pie plate instead of a tart pan, and it was a great success, absolutely flavorful and delicious. The phyllo crust came out flaky and crispy. Have definitely become one of my signature recipes :)

Arugula Salad Orange Couscous & Citrus Vinaigrette

This salad's presentation is quite lovely. The citrus vinaigrette is top notch and we use the leftovers for other vegetables. The combination of orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit really kick it up a notch. If you really want to impress your guests and blow them away with sophistication this is sure to wow them. Or just make the dressing and use it for other dishes and turn any ordinary vegetable into something special.

Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Pine Nuts & Raisins

An easy yet tasty way to prepare brussels sprouts. Pancetta, pine nuts and raisins all compliment the flavor of brussels sprouts. Oven-roasting develops great flavor and texture. A delicious side dish that goes well with any main course.

Asparagus with Cranberries & Pine Nuts

This is a quick, easy way to saute asparagus. The dish has a light flavor and makes a great accompaniment to Italian meals. I make this year-round, but we especially enjoy it at Thanksgiving

Easy Pesto

Easy homemade pesto with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil blended in minutes. Five ingredients for a vibrant sauce that beats anything jarred.

Sauteed Asparagus, Leeks with Pancetta & Pine Nuts

Sautèing asparagus with bacon (pancetta) and leeks is an excellent way to cook asparagus and keep it perfectly tender-crisp and finished with pine nuts and aromatic garlic. Lemon and orange zest make this side a sophisticated, delicious variety of textures and flavors.

Basil & Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini

These stuffed zucchini are cheesy and absolutely delicious. It's an excellent way to make zucchini into a tasty dish.

5 Layer Quinoa Lasagna

Quinoa is high in fiber, protein and gluten free. To make this quinoa lasagna, we use a spring-form pan layered with different flavored quinoa and vegetables, colorful and incredibly tasty.

Spinach, Mozzarella & Pine Nuts Stuffed Pork Chops

These deliciously stuffed pork chops are juicy and moist, serve with mashed potatoes or a refreshing veggie salad.

Chinese Couscous Salad

Sauteed mushrooms, bell peppers with garlic, ginger, scallions and Chinese spicies. It comes out delicious, serve it as a side dish or a main course.

Orzo with Broccoli, Feta Cheese, & Olives

A quick, easy and tasty dish is an ideal week-night meal. Packed with goodness and yumminess, it's good for you.

Grilled Potato & Parsley Pesto Salad

Grilled potatoes tossed with freshly-made parsley pesto, an easy recipe that tastes delicious. Clean, fresh and vibrant flavors perk up plain grilled potatoes. A great side dish perfect for a summer BBQ.

Stuffed Zucchini Rolls

These stuffed zucchini rolls were fantastic! Always want to find some good zucchini recipes, this is definitely the one. So easy to make! Love the juicy, creamy and tasty stuffing, which went perfectly well with chilled zucchini slices. Next time when we have company to come over, definitely will make these rolls again.

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