Pistachios Are Having a Moment — Here Are Our 13  Favorite Recipes

Justine Lee
Justine LeeRecipe Production Coordinator
Justine Lee is Kitchn's Recipe Production Coordinator and a food writer and recipe developer based in NYC. Her writing frequently appears in Food52, Bon Appetit, Food Network, The Infatuation, among others. She has also been featured in the New York Times and the Wall Street…read more
published Mar 23, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Pistachio cake, with a slice being lifted up, so you can the two layers with white filling.
Credit: Stephanie Loo

Pistachio is sort of like the Pedro Pascal of flavors right now. We’re seeing them show up everywhere, and we find ourselves wanting to indulge in the verdant nut every chance we can get. Sure, raw pistachios can act as a garnish, but that only shows off half of their range. From the way it speckles ultra-soft pastries, bejewels a bright-colored salad, or tints and fragrances cakes, pistachio has an air of luxury to it that rivals other nuts (with peace and love to almond, peanut, and walnut!).

Because we’re simply thrilled pistachio is finally having its moment, we wanted to showcase the 13 best recipes in our library that show off the extraordinary abilities of pistachio. And before you ask, yes, you can and should munch one of these dishes while you watch your favorite selection from Pedro Pascal’s filmography.

1 / 13
Pistachio Ice Cream

This cool and creamy pistachio ice cream has a strong and delicious pistachio aroma.

Go to Recipe
2 / 13
Pistachio Raspberry Croissants
Stale store-bought croissants come back to life when they get stuffed with rich pistachio cream and raspberry preserves.
Go to Recipe
3 / 13
Pistachio and Milk Cookies Dipped in White Chocolate

Adorned with a melted white chocolate dip, bright-green pistachios give these milk-based cookies an extra-glam look and make them even more irresistible.

Go to Recipe
4 / 13
Pistachio Cake

This three-layer pistachio cake contains no artificial flavors, cake mix, or pudding mix, but is still infused with a delicate yet impactful pistachio flavor.

Go to Recipe
5 / 13
Sheet Pan Pistachio-Crusted Cod with Fall Vegetables

There are breadcrumbs, and then there are garlicky pistachio crusts. The latter top flaky cod fillets and pair beautifully with Dijon mustard in this easy, vegetable-packed sheet pan dinner.

Go to Recipe
6 / 13
Sweet Potato Cardamom Buns with Pistachio and Orange

Chopped pistachios add a bit of crunch and a gorgeous pop of green to these pillowy-soft buns scented with sweet potato and orange, in addition to signaling the start of spring.

Go to Recipe
7 / 13
Dark Chocolate Bark with Pistachios, Rose Petals & Walnuts

A sheet of silky chocolate bark — sprinkled with crushed bright-green pistachios, light pink rose petals, and neutral walnuts — broken by hand or with a wooden mallet. It is beautiful, delicious, and fun to eat.

Go to Recipe
8 / 13
Melon and Herb Salad with Pistachios

This combination of cantaloupe, fresh herbs, and salty pistachios is light, elegant, and perfect for hot summer days.

Go to Recipe
9 / 13
Spumoni Recipe

Level up traditional spumoni with maraschino cherries, crunchy mini dark chocolate chips, and a double dose of pistachio from ice cream and toasty nuts. Can you make your own homemade pistachio ice cream? Sure! But your favorite store-bought pint is completely fine, too.

Go to Recipe
10 / 13
Pistachio Rose Clouds

These powder-pink pistachio and rose-scented meringues have a lot going for them. The pastel color makes them over-the-top girly, and their intense, nutty sweetness is lovely with a cup of strong black tea.

Go to Recipe
11 / 13
Zucchini Noodles with Parsley-Pistachio Pesto

The zesty pistachio-parsley pesto that coats every strand of zoodle is a sauce you will want to slather on everything from regular pasta to crusty bread to roasted vegetables.

Go to Recipe
12 / 13
Almond-Tahini Cake with Rose Syrup & Pistachio

This delicate almond-tahini cake soaked with a sweet rose syrup and topped with buttery green pistachios is reminiscent of baklava and also happens to be naturally vegan and dairy-free.

Go to Recipe
13 / 13
Pistachio Smash Cookies

These naturally gluten- and egg-free cookies are a Depression-era treat that are surprisingly rich and decadent, thanks to cream cheese, almond paste, and ground pistachios.

Go to Recipe