Good and Good for You: Pistachios

 

So I know a lot of you spend a lot of your time trying to nail down that perfect gift for that special day this month, but c’mon…what could be more perfect for World Pistachio Day than pistachios?!?!? 

So to help you make Feb 23 just a little bit more wonderful, I’m going to work on some special pistachios recipes.  But first, what makes those little green nuts so darned fabulous?  Let’s find out.

PISTACHIOS

People have been noshing on these little treats since way back in the way back-whens (that’d be the BCs).  Pistachios are one of the oldest flowering nut trees and native to the Middle East.  Because they grow so well in hot climates, pistachios spread across the Middle East to the Mediterranean. Their high nutritional value combined with a long shelf life made pistachios the perfect caravan road trip snack food and they were carried by travelers, traders and explorers.

Around the Mediterranean, they became revered as a delicacy.  According to multiple sources, King Nebuchadnezzar grew them in his fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon as a treat for his wife.  The Queen of Sheba called dibs on them as a royal food and forbade the commoners from growing them for their own use.

Moving ahead to the ADs, Roman Emperor Vitellius is rumored to have polished off many a fine meal with a mouthful of pistachios and they are mentioned in the first century Roman cookbook by Apicius.

One of the most interesting things I found out is that pistachios are one of only two nuts mentioned by name in the Bible.  Genesis 43:11 – Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. I still haven't discovered what the other nut was yet...oh, maybe almonds. :/

It took a while for pistachios to make their way to the Americas and it wasn’t until the 1940s that, with the help of a little vehicle called ice cream, pistachios became quite popular.  It was another 30 years or so later before pistachios were cultivated domestically in the U.S.

You used to be able to more easily find red-dyed pistachios sold in the store.  They were colored to make them more "appealing" and hide flaws, but honestly, I find their naturally green state much more to my liking.  Though the thought of Christmas still conjures up images of my Grandma J sitting in a chair by the fireplace plowing through a bag of red pistachios...she does love her pistachios.  (Sorry, Gma, but you know it's true!)

And how good are they for you?

• Pistachios are a rich source of energy and a plentiful source of good fats and antioxidants.
• Consumed regularly, they can contribute to lowering bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol levels within your blood.
• Pistachios are a great source of potassium, which helps lower blood pressure.
• They are high in fiber, especially soluble fiber which aids in the digestive system.  The brown skin around the nut adds extra fiber and nutrients to your pistachio intake benefits, so it’s okay to it them.
• Pistachios are a good snack for those with diabetes because they can help with controlling blood sugar levels.

All that and they are darned tooting tasty to boot!  So if you haven’t given them a chance before, you should certainly check them out.