Pistachio Pairings: Goat Cheese Stuffed Pepperazzi with Pistachio Crumble

“I received free pistachio samples from the Pistachio Health Institute mentioned in this post. By posting this pairing I am entering a contest sponsored by Pistachio Health Institute and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

Hey everyone!

This month, I’m participating in a Recipe Redux contest sponsored by The Pistachio Health Institute. This wasn’t actually a recipe contest, but a flavor pairings contest!

We were asked to come up with a combination of food and a drink that would pair well with in-shell pistachios. I wandered around our Whole Foods for a while and came up with this combination.

First, about pistachios…

Pistachios are a great snack. They are full of heart-healthy fats and protein. A one-ounce serving of pistachios is about 49 nuts, which is more nuts per serving than any other nut! A reduced portion of 30 pistachios is only 100 calories.

Pistachios are also great because of their shells. Why you ask? They are a great visual cue to how many you’ve eaten.  In a recent study, those who left the shells on their desk reduced their intake by 18 percent compared to those who immediately threw away the shells. So leave them in a pile on the table while you’re snacking!

This was the prompt for the challenge:

In-shell Pistachios + food A + food B + drink c = yummmmmmmm

Winners will be chosen in the following categories:

• Mediterranean
• Skinny Nut/Reduced Calorie
• Kid Friendly
• Indulgent

For my entry, I decided to go with Mediterranean!

Goat Cheese Stuffed Pepperazzi with Pistachio Crumble

In-Shell Pistachios + Pepperazzi + Goat Cheese + Merlot = Yum!

If you’re not familiar with pepperazzi, check out this website. They are cute, little red peppers that are tangy and spicy! These pair wonderfully with the sweetness of goat cheese. The chopped pistachios on top add a salty crunch. I drizzled my stuffed peppers with a little olive oil and cracked some black pepper on top. Add a glass of merlot, and done! Delicious! This would be a great late afternoon snack (on the weekends…) or a fun appetizer for a dinner party.

What would you pair with pistachios?

Emily

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