Pine Nuts: Nutrition Value, Health Benefits, Side Effects and Facts

Pine nuts, also known as pignoli, pinon nuts and sometimes Indian nuts, are the edible seeds of pine trees, found in the genus Pinus. These seeds have been used in the cuisines of Europe, North America, and Asia for thousands of years, since they are high in protein, dietary fiber, and flavor. Some traditional recipes call for pine nuts, often toasted to bring out their distinctive taste, which is, for lack of a better word, very nutty and buttery, hence they are added to some salads and are also used in making the famous Italian pesto sauce. Italian pignolia cookies are also made using pine nuts as the main ingredient. The pine nut oil which has a very strong taste, hence is used in flavoring many vegetables and salads. Most markets carry pine nuts, which can be an expensive specialty item, so it's worth it to shop around before purchasing pine nuts.