While these mighty-yet-tiny green nuts are known for their waist-cinching properties—they're the lowest-calorie nut out there!—they've also got a bunch more underrated super powers under their belt. The hulk-colored nut has more heart-healthy omega-3s than fish oil, and a two-ounce serving has more potassium than a medium-sized banana!
As if that's not enough, pistachios can totally help you lose 10 pounds, too! That's because a mere one-ounce serving of dry-roasted pistachios is loaded with six grams of protein, three grams of fiber, and 15 grams of fat—for just 160 calories. In other words, they're a total macro powerhouse that make for the perfect snack to munch on. So, to boost your health and reach those body goals, opt for switching up your meals and desserts with these delicious ideas! And while you're on the nutty bandwagon, check out these 20 Best Nut and Seed Butters You Can Buy Online!
Dark Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Bars
Serves: 16
Nutrition: 122 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated, 0 g trans), 23 mg sodium, 19 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 2.6 g protein
Dark chocolate and cherries are one of our favorite combos. And that means that this duo is not only super yummy, it's also really good for you. Dark chocolate contains anti-inflammatory flavanols while cherries contain cancer-fighting flavanoids. Yum! Get your fill by packing one of these pistachio-dotted bars into your lunch bag.
Get the recipe from Begin With Nutrition.
Berry Pistachio Spinach Salad with Berry Vinaigrette
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 370 calories, 29 g fat (5 g saturated, 0 g trans), 345 mg sodium, 25 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 20 g sugar, 4.5 g protein
Crunchy iron-clad spinach is tossed with zesty red onions, briny blue cheese, and crispy pistachios. These fresh ingredients are then drizzled with a honey-berry vinaigrette. For more salad ideas, take a peek at these 30 Salad Recipes for Weight Loss.
Get the recipe from Creme De La Crumb.
Pistachio Coconut Ice Cream
Serves: 8
Nutrition: 253 calories, 19 g fat (11 g saturated, 0 g trans), 55 mg sodium, 17 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 4 g protein
Since smooth, craving-crushing ice cream is obviously one of the The Top 20 Guilty Pleasures People Refuse to Give Up, we've added this mindful yet delightful option to our recipe list. Coconut adds creaminess and natural sweetness while pistachios pack in some muscle-building protein. Choosing this lower-cal dessert over a pint of Ben and Jerry's is a total no-brainer.
Get the recipe from Love From The Oven.
Baklava Cups
Serves: 12
Nutrition: 181 calories, 13.6 g fat (3.5 g saturated, 0 g trans), 159 mg sodium, 12.5 g carbs, 1.3 g fiber, 2.6 g sugar, 3 g protein (calculated without sugar topping)
If you're anything like me, rounding out dinner with baklava and mint tea is as comforting as a snuggling under the blankets on a rainy day. And anyone who's Mediterranean knows that baklava is incomplete without a dusting of pistachios. For under 200 calories, you won't feel too guilty about satiating your sweet tooth with these phyllo pastries.
Get the recipe from Inquiring Chef.
Olive Oil & Pistachio Brownies
Serves: 16
Nutrition: 193 calories, 11 g fat (4 g saturated, 0 g trans), 48 mg sodium, 22 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 2.6 g protein
This olive oil-loving blogger combines fine ingredients like espresso powder, cacao nibs, and pistachios with healthy fats to create these ultra-rich chocolately squares of heaven. Pair one of these brownies with a tall glass of chilled milk and you got yourself a swoon-worthy snack.
Get the recipe from Love And Olive Oil.
Salt-roasted Seabass With Pistachio, Fennel & Lemon
Serves: 4
Nutrition: 326 calories, 10 g fat (2 g saturated, 0 g trans), N/A mg sodium, 10 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 47 g protein
If you're wondering what to make the fam for dinner tonight, look no further than this delectable seabass dish. The fish is encased and roasted with a coarse salt shell, which is then chipped away before plating. If you're a seafood fan, don't miss our report on Every Popular Fish—Ranked for Nutritional Benefits!
Get the recipe from Sassy Kitchen.
Pistachio Macarons
Serves: 20 (2 cookies per serving)
Nutrition: 82 calories, 3 g fat (0 g saturated, 0 g trans), 11 mg sodium, 13 g carbs, 0.7 g fiber, 11 g sugar, 2 g protein
Macarons are a close runner up to the Statue of Liberty if we're talking about the best things we got from the French. But if we're talking guilt-free desserts, these little pastries definitely take the cake. They're low in calories and sugar and therefore won't set you back too much. Now that's a win-win.
Get the recipe from Love And Olive Oil.
Swedish Crackers
Serves: 20
Nutrition: 167 calories, 11 g fat (1.5 g saturated, 0 g trans), 121 mg sodium, 13 g carbs, 4.4 g fiber, 0.5 g sugar, 5.7 g protein (calculated with chia seeds instead of flax seeds)
Invite over all your friends tonight, because we just found the perfect vessel (that isn't nachos!) for these healthy dips for weight loss. These Swedish-inspired crackers are studded with pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, and flax seeds, as well as rye flour—the grain used to make pumpernickel bread.
Get the recipe from To Her Core.
Raw Turmeric, Cardamom and Pistachio Cheesecake
Serves: 14
Nutrition: 333 calories, 25 g fat (8.7 g saturated, 0 g trans), 8 mg sodium, 24 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 14.5 g sugar, 8 g protein (calculated with 8 oz cashews)
We all love a quality slice of New York cheesecake from time to time, but this spiced pistachio rendition is one you can enjoy a little more often. It's infused with an Indian flavor combo of turmeric (the new it girl of spices), warm cardamom, and our favorite green nut. Plus, this untraditional recipe calls for cashew cream in lieu of cheese—which grants us all the more reason to give it a try.
Get the recipe from To Her Core.
Curried Pomegranate Pistachio Quinoa
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 320 calories, 16 g fat (8.5 g saturated, 0 g trans), 205 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 6.3 g fiber, 13.6 g sugar, 7.5 g protein
Here at Eat This, Not That!, we're kind of obsessed with quinoa. After all, the mighty grain is a complete protein, which means it has all the essential amino acids, in addition to packing in an exceptional amount of belly-filling fiber. Pop in some pomegranate and pistachios into this superfood bowl and you've got yourself an ideal meal.
Get the recipe from Savory Simple.
Arugula Pistachio Pesto
Serves: 8
Nutrition: 102 calories, 10 g fat (1.5 g saturated, 0 g trans), 99 mg sodium, 1 g carbs, 0.5 g fiber, 0.5 g sugar, 1 g protein
Looking for something to spread on your toast that's not butter? This pesto is the perfect pick for any carby canvas. Peppery arugula pairs beautifully with the pistachios, garlic, and red pepper flakes. The flakes add a bit of a kick, thanks to capsaicin—the compound that curbs appetite and helps shrink your waistline.
Get the recipe from Love And Olive Oil.
Turkish-style Chicken and Pistachio Pizza
Serves: 5
Nutrition: 339 calories, 12 g fat (2 g saturated, 0 g trans), 270 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 1.6 g sugar, 15 g protein (calculated with half pizza dough recipe)
Inspired by the simple ingredients and fresh flavors she experienced on a trip to Turkey, this wanderlusting blogger combined protein-packed chicken, warm cinnamon and paprika, and zesty shallots in this amazing pizza recipe. Serve these slices with a side of Greek yogurt for an extra protein punch and a burst of tartness.
Get the recipe from Inquiring Chef.
Banana Pistachio Coconut Smoothie
Serves: 1
Nutrition: 296 calories, 10.5 g fat (3.8 g saturated, 0 g trans), 101 mg sodium, 44 g carbs, 5.7 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 10 g protein (calculated without honey)
Wake up to a perfectly sweet smoothie that blends energy-boosting banana with creamy coconut and satisfying pistachios. Since this deliciousness is confined in a cup, it's perfect to grab and go on those minute-less mornings when you don't have time to even think about sitting down for breakfast.
Get the recipe from Sweet Phi.
Tomato Watermelon Gazpacho with Pistachios and Basil Oil
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 84 calories, 2.7 g fat (0 g saturated, 0 g trans), 201 mg sodium, 14 g carbs, 2.5 g fiber, 10 g sugar, 2.8 g protein
While traditional gazpacho is made with a base of tomatoes, this recipe plays around with the salsa-like soup by adding watermelon to the mix. It's served with a drizzle of basil-infused olive oil (yes, that exists!), crumbled pistachios, and torn basil or microgreens. Now's the time to add this cold soup to your list of summer lunch recipes.
Get the recipe from Love And Olive Oil.
Tropical Trail Mix
Serves: 16
Nutrition: 320 calories, 19 g fat (4 g saturated, 0 g trans), 52 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 5.4 g fiber, 21 g sugar, 7 g protein (calculated without granola clusters)
Whether you're lacing up your hiking boots or buttoning up your work slacks, grabbing a bag of this trail mix on-the-go is definitely a good idea. Why's that? This nutty mix is chock full of the stuff—from Brazil nuts to cashews to macadamias and pistachios—and chewy dehydrated pineapple and mango. We opted out of mixing in granola clusters in order to keep the sugar content in check.
Get the recipe from Creme De La Crumb.
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