Pistachio Pairings Just in Time for Valentines Day

salted pistachios + chocolate cheesecake + fresh raspberries + ruby port

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.

 Pistachios were one of my favorite nuts as a young girl. I loved them. My mother purchased them sporadically, so it was a real treat when she did. So, when I learned about this Pistachio Pairing contest with Recipe Redux, I got excited.  I decided to enter the “indulgent” category. Valentines’ Day is right around the corner, so I thought I would come up with a romantic pairing for my husband and I.

Cheesecake Factory chocolate cheesecake + pistachios + fresh raspberries + ruby port

Chocolate cheesecake with fresh raspberries is nothing new. But pair it with a good Ruby port and pistachios in the shell … and you have a real tasty and decadent treat. Ruby port is wonderful when paired with chocolate desserts. It’s sweet red wine with powerful fruit like plum, cherry and berries.  It goes very well with the creamy texture of the chocolate cheesecake. The pistachios add a nice texture, saltiness, and contrast to the cheesecake and port. I was able to buy Cheesecake Factory chocolate cheesecake at my local Costco store. It comes frozen and includes 6 original and 6 chocolate cheesecake portions. It's great to have in the freezer for dessert "emergencies" or special events.

I encourage you to visit the Pistachio Health Institute for a wealth of information and resources for consumers and health professionals. This includes information about pistachios and heart health, weight management and other research studies.  I was amazed to learn that one ounce of pistachios (without the shell) amounts to 49 nuts! That’s a lot of nuts and more nuts per one-ounce serving than any other nut.

49 pistachio shells

Leaving your empty pistachio shells  on your plate or napkin (compared to immediately throwing the shells into a trash can) can actually help you not overeat. They serve as a visual cue and you are likely to consume less.