Pinenuts

An early childhood memory was of hours spent cracking open the shells of pine kernels to extract the delicate, creamy nut from within. Pinenuts, especially the Mediterranean variety, have a resinous flavour and ever so slightly waxy, chalky texture. They are highly prized and superior to the Asian variety, so more expensive. They are used in all fields of cooking throughout the Mediterranean – in sauces, salads, rice dishes, sweets and omelettes such as the one.