Definition of

Pistachio

PistachioThe fruit produced by the pistachio tree , a tree also known as alfoncigo , is called pistachio . The etymological root of the term is found in the Greek pistákion , which came to Italian as pistacchio and to French as pistache .

The pistachio or alfoncigo tree, which can reach a height of about three meters, belongs to the Anacardiaceae family group. It has dark green leaves and flowers whose fruit is the pistachio, a small almond that can be eaten.

The pistachio is a greenish fruit that is characterized by its sweet flavor . It is a drupe : its endocarp (the inner layer) is woody, while its mesocarp is fleshy. It has a single seed, which is the part that is edible.

A greenish skin covers the pistachio. Beneath a hard, whitish shell appears the seed in question, which has multiple uses in the field of gastronomy.

Many times pistachio is consumed as an appetizer or snack . It can be eaten raw or roasted, sweetened or with salt. It is also possible to combine pistachios with other nuts or mix them with yogurt , for example. Pistachios crushed or ground with a mortar or even a blender, meanwhile, are used as an ingredient in baking recipes.

Pistachio ice cream , on the other hand, is popular in several regions. It is available in many ice cream shops, but it can also be prepared at home.

Among the nuts, the pistachio is the one that usually generates the most attraction for those with a sweet tooth. This is largely due to its peculiar sweet and sour flavor, which generates the need on the palate to continue eating until there is no more left. In Syria or Iran, for example, pistachio is used to make pastas that are consumed very frequently.

Since ancient times, the pistachio has conquered the palates of both rich and poor, as the legend of the Queen of Sheba tells it, who supposedly determined that it could only be grown for court use, prohibiting her people from this irresistible pleasure. This story is more than three millennia old. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled in the 12th century BC, planted pistachios in his hanging gardens .

PistachioIt should be noted that pistachio has iron , potassium , magnesium and vitamins B1 , B6 and E. That is why its consumption contributes to reducing cholesterol and stress levels and helps combat anemia.

It is important to note that pistachio not only has a large number of nutrients, but its proportions show a particular balance. With respect to vegetable proteins , the proportion is around 20 percent, a property it shares with legumes. Carbohydrates are found in 28 percent of its composition; These are responsible for an important energy contribution that takes place as we slowly absorb them.

Intestinal transit also improves with the consumption of pistachio, since it contains 10 percent fiber. For the heart, they provide fats that are formed in more than 50 percent by the monounsaturated oleic acid, which we can also find in the pulp of avocado and olive oil, two other products recommended to take care of our health .

If we talk about its mineral content, it is only behind sesame in its iron content and first of all for its proportion of potassium (1 gram per 100), so it is an ideal food for controlling blood pressure. . It is also abundant in anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, which makes it ideal for minimizing the risk of certain degenerative and chronic diseases, including cancer and diabetes.