Pistachio Spread from Gabriele Rocchi with EVOO
Firenze, Italy
I cannot lie about my passions, and feelings. Well, at least not about food (and art).
And with extreme clarity, pistachios in any form is one of the finest delights that nature brings us.
From the joy of peeling, to cracking the nuts so to speak, to, of course, mangiare (to eat).
I have had pistachios from all over the world. Fresh in Turkey, and of course in California, which is the largest producer in the world, and Iran. These three locations make up 90% of all pistachios grown commercially. All are fabulous and wonderful, how can they not be? They’re pistachios!
I have found myself leaning towards the lesser known varieties, perhaps because they are “shaped” differently or the unique flavor is what attracts me.
And thats why we have added this special spread to our little growing collection of pistachio cremas. As you can imagine we see a lot of good food come across our kitchen table, and many pistachio creams. Very few make it past the (figuratively) first spoonful (no we don’t throw them out). We are very picky to what we share with you though.
Sometimes, when you crack the box, rip the paper, or pop the top you know it is going to be good, great really and this crema is just that. Amazing!
Though perhaps there is a whiff of fresh pistachios when you first spin off the cap, in the future you will need to almost bury your nose in the jar to get a nose full of pistachio.
The first spoonful, now that is where the magic happens.
Its gentle feel to the tongue is smooth as it spreads across your senses… hidden below the initial touch is a light grittiness that is intriguing and what makes it feel real, full of personality.
EV Olive oil has been chosen to match with the Greek pistachio which is known for its exceptional aroma, high oil content, and dense texture. This, along with the “Soffi di sale”, puffs of sea salt from Trapani, to make a crema with a royal feel. The richness of texture and feel, is rich without being overwhelming or too much.
Can you tell, I like this just a bit…. half the jar is gone to ensure that it is tasty.