Pistachio Nut Blondies

Ingredients

  • 125 g butter melted
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup plain flour
  • 80 g unsalted pistachios

Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 180C.
  2. Line the base and grease the sides of a 20cm x 20cm slice tin and set aside.
  3. Sift flour into a large bowl and add brown sugar, salt, baking powder and pistachio nuts. Combine dry ingredients roughly with a knife and make a well in the centre of your dry ingredients.
  4. Drop in your butter and lightly beat eggs with a fork.
  5. Mix together until well combined.
  6. Pour mixture into your prepared slice tin and level it out roughly with a knife.
  7. Place in the oven for around 20 minutes, keeping a close eye on its progress from the 15 minute mark to ensure they come out just how you like them.

Pistachio Basil Pesto

Ingredients

4 cups fresh basil leaves

  • 1/2 cup pistachios roasted, shelled
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated or shredded
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/2 cup olive oil – more if needed
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Instructions

    • Add the basil leaves, to the bowl of a food processor or blender.
    • Zest about 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest and add the pistachios, parmesan cheese, 3 cloves garlic, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes in a blender or food processor.
    • Blend or pulse until you have a rough chop.
    • While the machine is running, gradually drizzle in olive oil, and continue to blend until a smooth paste is formed. Add about 1-2 teaspoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice and blend again.
    • Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed wtih salt and pepper or extra lemon juice.