Roasting pine nuts is easy and fun! In this post, we’ll explore where pinyon pines grow and how pinon nuts are harvested. Plus, I'll walk you through the steps to make roasted pine nuts, which can be enjoyed as a snack or used to make musakhan and many other dishes!
I'm sure you've heard of pine nuts and know of their many culinary uses, especially for making pesto, but did you know they are the seeds of pine trees? Pinyon pines to be exact! Pine nuts are known by other names including Piñón (Spanish), Pinoli/Pignoli (Italian) and Snobar (Arabic).
Roasted pine nuts can be added as a garnish to many dishes including baba ganoush. In this post, however, I'll show you how to roast pinyon pine nuts while they're still in their soft shells.
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Toasted pine nuts have a warm, slightly sweet, and nutty taste that’s delicious and unique.
- Pine nuts can be used in a variety of dishes and recipes!
- The process of cracking the shells encourages mindful eating, making it easier to savor and enjoy each bite.
- They make a great on-the-go snack, especially on road trips!
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Pine Nuts: For this recipe, you'll need raw pinyon pine nuts, still encased in their shells. You can find them from August to November in some grocery stores, or online, especially on Ebay and Etsy.
🔥 Roasting Pine Nuts On the Stove Top
Step 1: Sort through pine nuts, if necessary, to remove debris and pine needles. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, then add pine nuts. Shake pan or stir continuously to keep them from burning. Roast for approximately 5-8 minutes, or until the shell begins to char and the pine nuts become fragrant and golden brown.
Pro Tip: The steam created inside the shells can cause the seeds to pop and explode. For this reason, you'll want to keep a close eye on them and cover the pan with a lid during the last few minutes of roasting.
Step 2: Remove roasted pine nuts from the pan to avoid further roasting. Once cool enough to handle, shell and enjoy as a snack or use in your favorite pine nut recipe!
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Oven Method
Preheat oven to 325°F-350°F
Arrange the pine nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes. Stir the nuts every 5 minutes to ensure they roast evenly.
🫘 How to Forage Pine Nuts
I had no idea what pine nuts in the shell were until my husband, Scott, introduced me to them years ago when we were newlyweds.
Scott grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona, where pinyon pines grow. He shared how he foraged pine nuts by spreading a sheet beneath the pinyon pines and shaking the branches to release the pine nuts (seeds) from the open pine cones. After sorting through the cones and pine needles, he would harvest the pine nuts and roast them in a pan for a tasty snack!
In some parts of the county, you can find unshelled pine nuts in the grocery store. The rest of us have to find them on Etsy or Ebay unless you're lucky enough to live somewhere where you can forage them!
Where do Pinyon Pines Grow?
Pinyon pines (Pinus edulis and related species) primarily grow in the Southwestern United States and parts of Northern Mexico.
In the Southwest, pinyon pines thrive in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. However, they can also be found in some parts of California, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, and Texas.
Pine nuts also grow in other countries, in regions where the climate supports the growth of pine trees. This includes China, Russia, the Middle East, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece.
🍪 What can you make with pine nuts?
Pine nuts can be added to baked goods, for example, pignoli (Italian pinenut cookies) and can replace the walnuts in these walnut fig biscotti. They can also be scattered on hummus, or a gourmet pizza. They make a great addition to salads, pasta, kubba mosul, and risotto!
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Pine nuts have a mild, slightly sweet and nutty flavor, somewhat similar to roasted chestnuts. They have a delicate, creamy texture when eaten raw, but taste better when roasted. Some people detect a faint resinous or piney note, though it's quite subtle.
Raw pine nuts are edible, however, toasting the pine nuts is a much better option, as it brings out their delicious nutty flavor.
Pine nut syndrome (also known as pine nut taste disorder) is a rare and temporary condition that affects some people after consuming pine nuts. It causes a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth that can last for several days. Pine nut syndrome is harmless, though it can be unpleasant.
Yes, freezing pine nuts is a good way to extend their shelf life, as they are prone to going rancid due to their high oil content.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- Roast the pine nuts in a single layer. Overcrowding the pan will keep the pine nuts from roasting evenly.
- To enjoy roasted pine nuts, simply crack open the shell, much like eating sunflower seeds, and savor the nut while discarding the shell.
- Store roasted and cooled pine nuts in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, preferably in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- No matter how hard you try, the pine nuts don't always roast evenly. If you find some are not as toasted as you prefer, you can toast them in a pan once shelled.
🌰 Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Roasted Pine Nuts (Pinyon Nuts)
Equipment
- 1 pint-sized mason jar (for storage)
Ingredients
- 2 cups pine nuts in shells
Instructions
- Sort through pine nuts, if necessary, to remove debris and pine needles. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, then add pine nuts. Shake pan or stir continuously to keep them from burning. Roast for approximately 5-8 minutes, or until the shell begins to char and the pine nuts become fragrant and golden brown.
- Remove roasted pine nuts from the pan to avoid further roasting. Once cool enough to handle, shell and enjoy as a snack or use in your favorite pine nut recipe!
Oven Method (preheat oven to 325℉-350℉)
- Arrange the pine nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes. Stir the nuts every 5 minutes to ensure they roast evenly.
Notes
- The steam created inside the shells can cause the seeds to pop and explode. For this reason, you'll want to keep a close eye on them and cover the pan with a lid during the last few minutes of roasting.
- Roast the pine nuts in a single layer. Overcrowding the pan will keep the pine nuts from roasting evenly.
- To enjoy roasted pine nuts, simply crack open the shell, much like eating sunflower seeds, and savor the nut while discarding the shell.
- Store roasted and cooled pine nuts in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, preferrably in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- No matter how hard you try, the pine nuts don't always roast evenly. If you find some are not as toasted as you prefer, you can toast them in a pan once shelled.
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