Infinity Foods Co-operative Ltd

Pine Nuts

14/06/10

 Pine nuts are still expensive unfortunately, although we doubt you will find any cheaper than ours anywhere in the UK.

Perhaps it will interest you to know that the trees which produce them only start producing nuts after 25 years & don’t   become commercially viable for 75 years. The pine cones must be harvested by hand, needing good tree climbing skills & a head for heights. All this in part explains the cost.

Pine nuts are an excellent source of magnesium, potassium & folic acid & a main ingredient in pesto of course.  

Organic pine nuts are now completely sold out & won’t be back in stock until new crop reaches us around March 2011. However, we have good stocks of natural pine nuts & are selling them at very reasonable prices.

Classic Pesto Genovese Recipe

Italian grannies make their pesto by hand in a marble mortar, adding the basil a leaf at a time. The results are the smoothest pesto imaginable. Their granddaughters are more likely to reach for the food processor, & the result is almost as good.

Recipe – makes 450g enough for 6-8 people

4 packs fresh basil, or 1 large basil plant, leaves only

50g infinity foods pine kernels


2 cloves garlic, chopped


1 tsp granular sea salt


50g freshly grated Parmesan


100-200ml extra virgin olive oil

Wash and dry the basil leaves. Heat a dry frying pan over a medium heat and toast the pine kernels lightly for 2-3 minutes.

Using a processor, drop all the ingredients in and blitz to a luscious green sauce.To store the pesto, pour into a jar, float a layer of olive oil on top, cover and refrigerate for up to a week.