Pine nuts

[Paul_R]

Fresh from northern Nevada

Soak in salt brine for about an hour then roast at 325F for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Easy and highly addicting!

 

[BullRunBear]

Paul, You nailed it with pine nuts being addictive. They were a staple in my Lebanese grandparent's cooking. (They were first generation American but, luckily for me, they retained the old recipes.) They were used raw in the mixtures for spinach and lamb pies, lightly toasted with rice dishes and a salad, and sometimes toasted like in your photo just in a bowl for snacking. When we grandkids were visiting that bowlful didn't last long.

As a kid I had always assumed they were strictly a middle eastern and Mediterranean item. Wasn't until I was an adult that I learned they were used all over the planet and had been for millennia. Anyone know how they were used by the North American tribes and early settlers?

Thanks for posting that photo.

Jeff

 

[Paul_R]

They were staples for native Americans living wherever pinion pines thrive. In fact I got these from native Americans near Elko. They're perfectly edible raw, shells and all (being a soft shell variety). But roasting really wakes them up and removes most all of the residual pine sap. Nothing beats roasting over an open fire but they're easy to over cook and burn that way.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I like pine nuts, but my wife is allergic to them, so we don't keep them around.

 

[Nativearizonan]

They are mentioned in very early 16th century Spanish journals of parties into the SW.

Pinion or Pinyon Pine is actually a redundant name, as Pinion, or Pinyon just means Pine in Spanish. It is the tree recognized by the Spaniards as being the same as their own edible pine species.

 

[Wes/Tex]

You're making me cry. Haven't been able to get any down here for some years. Beginning to believe it's a yankee plot! :wink: :rotf:

 

[cynthialee]

Wow, that looks so yummy.
I haven't seen Pinion in years. I do believe last time I seen them was in New Mexico many years ago. Harvest time would come around and all the Mexican and Native kids had them in their lunch pails when I was a kid. I learned to haggle and bargain because of those pinion. My folks never had them and I didn't know where to get them other than from the kids who had them in their lunches.

 

[NeilMacleod]

Looked at them yesterday at the Bulk barn, They were over $35/lb.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Beginning to believe it's a Yankee plot!

Yankee plots, are actually Southern plots.... :wink: ...Think about it... :haha:

 

[tenngun]

They are mentioned in very early 16th century Spanish journals of parties into the SW.

Pinion or Pinyon Pine is actually a redundant name, as Pinion, or Pinyon just means Pine in Spanish. It is the tree recognized by the Spaniards as being the same as their own edible pine species.

I grew up with pinyon nuts as an 'indian food'. Loved them. Then in later years did a little cooking. Med/near east,and Greek cooking often calls for pin nuts. I remember thinking 'these look and taste just like our wild pinyon nuts. After a few years I figured out why.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Yankee plots, are actually Southern plots.... :wink: ...Think about it... :haha:

Hurts too much! :shake: :rotf: