Olivier Poels 5:40 p.m., May 19, 2022
This small edible seed comes from a well-known Mediterranean tree, the umbrella pine.
After its flowering, it produces what are called apples, with very tight scales.
During the summer, with the heat, the scales spread apart, allowing the harvest of these small almonds in autumn.
A beautiful apple contains a hundred seeds.
These are surrounded by a hard shell that must be gently broken.
Since the umbrella pine is present all around the Mediterranean, many peoples have been consuming these pine nuts for centuries.
Its medicinal virtues are praised (against cough or impotence or even ulcers).
In the Middle Ages, mixed with almonds, pistachios, honey or sugar, it was used to make a delicacy that could be considered the ancestor of nougat.
Other recipes that require pine nuts: pesto, Swiss chard pie, in salads... You can also make delicious pies.
Pine nut pie recipe
Ingredients :
1 shortcrust pastry
3 eggs
100 g soft butter
100 g of sugar
100 g ground almonds
5 cl of rum
1 pinch of salt
50 g of pine nuts
Mix the 3 eggs, soft butter, sugar, ground almonds and salt
Pour this preparation into the bottom of the pie
Arrange the sprockets on top
Bake 40min at 180°C