Monday, February 18, 2008

Chocolate and pistachio brownies

Chocolate and pistachio brownies

I have so many recipes on my del.icio.us that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to cook them all! And I’m always adding more recipes to it, so yes, it will be pretty much impossible.

Sara had a great idea – she was cooking a recipe from her del.icio.us once a week and I have been thinking about doing that too. Let’s see if I can keep up with it! :)

One of those million recipes was the one for these delicious brownies; the idea of using pistachios instead of the usual suspects - walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts - sounded really good to me. And these are exactly that: really good.

I accidentally underbaked the brownies but it was OK – I had trouble trying to cut them, but they were so intensely fudgy that it was worth it.

A storm made it difficult for me to photograph my brownies (no light!), so make sure you check Michelle’s – and while you are there, go ahead the check her other recipes, too. They are wonderful!

Chocolate and pistachio brownies

Chocolate and pistachio brownies

100g (4oz) pistachios
100g (4oz) unsalted butter
100g (4oz) dark chocolate (70%), broken into small chunks
2 eggs
225g (8oz) granulated sugar
50g (scant 2oz) plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Line an 18×28cm (7×11in) pan with baking parchment, allowing the paper to come 2cm/1in above the pan; grease the paper or coat with cooking spray.
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas mark 4. Chop the nuts roughly so they’re still quite chunky and roast them in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, timed*. Remove from heat and spread the pistachio over a clean, dry kitchen towel. Set aside. Meanwhile put the butter and chocolate in a metal/glass bowl placed over a pan half-filled with barely simmering water. Allow the chocolate to melt, then beat until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the other ingredients, including the nuts, until thoroughly mixed.
Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared tin and bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until it is slightly springy in the middle. Take the brownies out of the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into about 15 squares. Use a palette knife to transfer to a wire cooling rack and serve when cool or still just slightly warm.

* This step is optional. Add the pistachios without roasting or use already roasted nuts (but unsalted).

Makes 15 – I got 12 larger brownies

41 comments:

Brilynn said...

I remember seeing these on Michelle's blog and bookmarking them to make too, but still haven't done it!

Anonymous said...

I have never made brownies with pistachios before. Sound luscious!

Meeta K. Wolff said...

Oh yeah - pistachios and chocolates. My fave combo anytime anyplace!

pam said...

I'm bookmarking this and adding it to my list of things to try! Pistachios in brownies sounds great!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I love super-fudgy brownies and almost always intentionally underbake mine to make sure they are really gooey. These look wonderful!

Kajal@aapplemint said...

I've tried pistachio in brownies ... they taste wonderful. They also add such a lovely colour in the dark chocolate.

Anh said...

Oh yum! I love all the flaours you have here, Pat!

Anonymous said...

looks simple yet very decadent! love pistachios, love brownies...

Gretchen Noelle said...

Brownies sound just delicious! These look awesome, I would love one right about now!

test it comm said...

Those look so moist and chocolaty and good!

BitterSweet said...

How lovely! Pistachios sound like a delicious textural and flavor contrast when paired with such a rich fudgy brownie. :)

Elle said...

Decadent and fudgy...that is hard to beat. The pistachios sound like a great nut to include, especially if you toast them.

michelle said...

Fudgy pistachio brownies? I think my sweet tooth loves you, Patricia!

Peabody said...

The pistachios are a great idea!

Manggy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Manggy said...

YES to underbaking brownies! Ha ha ha! I do love the intense fudginess, too :)

Anonymous said...

Pistachio in brownies sounds like a brilliant idea; I have to try that out. Do you think it's okay if I use salted pistachios? Or should I stick to normal ones to be safe?

KJ said...

I love pistachios. They are great in anything. Adding them to brownies is a terrific idea.

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Pistachios are a luxurious alternative to walnuts. I love this recipe, Patricia!

Anonymous said...

Looks so delicious! I'm so making brownies this week!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Bri, so go ahead and make these, they're so good!

Kieran, thank you!

Meeta, it was my first time trying this combo and I loved it!

Pam, I think you'll like these!

Lydia, really? Good to know I was not that wrong. :)

Kate, I agree with you!

Anh, thank you, sweetie!

Eliza, the pistachios were great in here.

Gretchen, I wish I had some left, too. :)

Kevin, thank you!

Hannah, I like the result, too!

Elle, it was a nice surprise to me.

Michelle, thank you, my dear friend!

Pea, I agree!

Mark, the word "fudgy" wins my heart already. :)

Hi, sweetie! I used the regular ones, I really can't tell if the salty ones would work here... You got me!

KJ, I'll start using them more in my baking and cooking.

Susan, thank you, dear!

Linda, make these!

Chibog in Chief said...

oh my this is a sure killer combination: choco and pistachios!! i need to cook this one of these days

sunita said...

Patricia, I've been so good today...went shopping and didn't give in to my chocolaty cravings...but , look, now you're tempting me with those gorgeous brownies of yours...I've got to make something :-D

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Chocolate and pistachio - Yumm!

Deborah said...

Yum! I, too, have been trying to work through my bookmarked recipes, but I add to them faster than I can take them away!!

Cheryl said...

Oh I love underbaked brownies. Just a moist, mush chocolate, yum. Love the pistachios in them too.

Sarah said...

Ohhhhh...pistachios in brownies. What a great idea! And I just happen to have a bag of pistachios sitting in the cabinet...

LyB said...

Fudgy, fudgy, fudgy... I love that word! Those brownies look so decadent, I love the contrast with the chocolate and the pistachios, beautiful.

Jaime said...

wow! my mom would love these, she adores pistachios!

Toni said...

I'll take pistachios over walnuts any day of the week! And chewy, fudgy brownies? Girl, you are talking my language!

Sara said...

I hope you do better than me! My recipe list on del.ici.ous has gotten out of control.

Stella said...

OH man! pistachios in brownies, these must taste heavenly!

sher said...

Pistachios make everything taste better--and since those brownies would be sensational without them, I can only imagine how good they were! They sound just perfect, fudgy and moist! Yum!!!

Emily said...

Your brownies are beautiful!
I love em good and fudgy like that.
Also, I LOVE pistachios! Their like our family nut. We eat them all of the time.

Veron said...

Now , pistachios are one thing I've never tried in brownies but they sound awesome!

Anonymous said...

There's just something about pistachios...love them! These look great :)

Anonymous said...

ooh, i love pistachios but never thought of putting them in chocolate.

those brownies look decadent!

Amy said...

That's a great combo Patricia! I adore brownies, can I have one? :)

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Pistachios and chocolate: that sounds just right. I must combine these two! Great idea.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Dhanggit, you should make these, they're so good!

Sunita, I'm sorry, sweetie! Do you forgive me? :)

Lynn, I agree!

Deb, there are so many great recipes out there, it's hard for us, isn't it? :)

Cheryl, it was my first time underbaking brownies but maybe I'll get addicted to it. :)

Sarah, use them for something delicious, sweetie. :)

LyB, thank you, dear!

Jaime, I'm glad I know your name now. :)

Toni, have some! :)

Sara, I'll try! :)

Valentina, they were gone in no time. :)

Sher, I can't wait to try pistachios in other recipes.

Emiline, thank you, dear!

Veron, so you should try it!

Maryann, I love their color, too.

Michelle, thank you!

Amy, you can have as many as you want, dear.

Tanna, they go really well together!

Susan G said...

Thanks for putting your 'delicious' list on a link. I've found a few things to put on my lists, and I've only seen page 1!

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