Pistachio paste is Italy’s green gold, and here’s what you can do with it
Going on holiday means bringing essential Dutch products for the journey there (for some people, at least) and bringing a suitcase full of local delicacies back for the return journey (for our entire editorial team). Do you have a holiday to Italy planned soon? Then you absolutely have to bring back a jar of this divine stuff – take my word for it!
Spending a holiday in this Southern European country is always a good idea, right? After all, we come for the food. Will we finally taste a real sgroppino made on Italian soil, the very best gelato, and, above all, don’t forget these delicious dishes. But pistachios are truly amazing, especially when turned into paste.
The green gold
Pistachio paste, or creme spalmabile al pistacchio, as the Italians would say, is made from pistachios, often honey or sugar, and a little milk powder. And by pistachios, we mean the very best: di Bronte. Bronte is a small village in the hills of Mount Etna where the world’s finest pistachios are produced. It’s no coincidence that pistachios are therefore called the green gold of Sicily.
Divinely delicious
The flavor and aroma of pistachio paste are impossible to compare with anything else: so full, nutty, and creamy. You can use it to bake the most delicious cakes, as frosting for cupcakes, and, of course, to make homemade pistachio ice cream. My tip: stir a generous teaspoon into the mascarpone mixture for your tiramisu, or spread it thickly on a freshly baked croissant. It’s so delicious you’ll be licking your fingers!
So when you’re in Italy, bring back a jar. They often sell it at the local market at the honey stall, or at an ice cream shop or bakery. Just check that the pistachios are di Bronte, stock up, and hop – into the suitcase and home!
Read also:
- 5 things not to do when you go to Italy
- Italian dishes you’ll never, ever get in Italy
- 7 of the tastiest dishes in Northern Italy
