From flavored lattes to gourmet pastries and everything in between, pistachio is having a moment. Now, there’s a new way to incorporate the healthy benefits of this green nut into even more—like baked goods. Enter: pistachio flour. Unlike regular flour, which is made from wheat, pistachio flour is made entirely from pistachios. Just as versatile as the nuts themselves, pistachio flour works in a variety of recipes; you can choose to buy it or make your own!
Most commonly used as an alternative to almond flour, pistachio flour is both gluten-free and keto-friendly. It’s made by grinding roasted pistachios into a fine powder. While it might sound complicated, it’s actually quite simple to make. Typically unsalted, pistachio flour is made from plain, roasted pistachios ground into a delicate green-gold powder.
Since pistachios aren’t a grain and don’t require mixing with other flours, the end product is completely gluten-free. It’s a fantastic alternative flour that tastes just like the nuts themselves, offering a nutty aroma. Using roasted pistachios for the flour adds a hint of “toasted” flavor, bringing layers of depth to any dish.
Pistachio flour can be used just like almond flour. Any recipe that calls for almond flour can be substituted with pistachio flour in a 1:1 ratio. If you want to add a hint of pistachio flavor to a recipe, try substituting a quarter of the flour in the recipe with pistachio flour and using all-purpose flour for the rest.
You can use pistachio flour for baked goods, sprinkle some finely ground pistachio flour over just about anything, and even use it to coat fish and chicken before cooking. It works well in both sweet and savory dishes. Coating fish, like salmon or snapper, in pistachio flour is an excellent way to utilize this popular flour.
We love using pistachio flour for baking recipes, like these Cloverleaf Cookies. It provides the perfect crisp texture and can even be mixed into a buttercream. Luckily, pistachio flour is so finely ground that it won’t be gritty. It simply enhances these classic shortbread sandwich cookies.
Because it’s made from premium nuts, pistachio flour is more expensive than regular flour. However, for certain recipes, it truly elevates the dish. You can buy pistachio flour online from retailers like Amazon or Nuts.com.
Pistachio flour is simply ground pistachios, making it easy to create at home. You’ll just need a pound of roasted pistachios and a food processor to grind them into a fine powder. Simply pulse in batches until the pistachios are powdered. Make sure the powder is fine and not clumpy or chunky; this will help keep your doughs or batters consistent for baking.
The best way to store nuts is in the refrigerator, and the same goes for pistachio flour. Seal it in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 months. You can also freeze pistachio flour for up to 6 months.