pignoli
Pesto's key nut
Pignoli are pine nuts—the small, elongated, cream-colored seeds extracted from pine cones.
The Italian term appears frequently in American cooking, especially in Italian-American recipes: pignoli cookies, pesto with pignoli.
Also spelled pignolia.
The English term pine nut is more common outside culinary contexts.
Cone-bearing tree
- coneTapered solid, circular base
- harvestGathering mature crops
- edible seedConsumable plant kernel
- kernelSeed or essential core
Browned by heat
- roastedCooked uncovered with heat
- crunchyBreaking with sound
- crispFirm and breakable
- butteryRich like a spread
delicate · small · creamy · tender · nutty · golden · light · soft
Crunchy Italian almond cookies
- macaronsFrench filled meringue cookies
- cookiesSmall sweet baked goods
- tartSharp-flavored small pie
- pastryButtery baked dough
cannoli · panettone · shortbread · frangipane · almond flour · confectioners' sugar · meringue · anise
Fragrant culinary leaf
- garlicPungent culinary bulb
- olive oilFruit-pressed culinary fat
- GenoveseOf or from Genoa
- mortar and pestleManual crushing implements
Liguria · linguine · sauce · pasta · spread · herbaceous · creamy · blender
Refined sensitivity or rarity
- artisanalMade by skilled craftspeople
- expensiveCosting much money
- importedObtained from overseas
- specialtyArea of expertise
culinary · premium · luxury · epicurean · connoisseur · prized · refined · quality
Italian appetizer course
- bruschettaGrilled bread with toppings
- risottoCreamy Italian grain dish
- focacciaOiled Italian flatbread with herbs
- sundried tomatoesTomatoes preserved by solar dehydration
Tuscany · capers · salad · arugula · radicchio · prosciutto · dolci · trattoria
conifer
Cone-bearing tree
- coneTapered solid, circular base
- harvestGathering mature crops
- edible seedConsumable plant kernel
toasted
Browned by heat
buttery · delicate · small · creamy · tender · nutty · golden · light · soft · whole
biscotti
Crunchy Italian almond cookies
pastry · cannoli · panettone · shortbread · frangipane · almond flour · confectioners' sugar · meringue · anise · ganache
basil
Fragrant culinary leaf
mortar and pestle · Liguria · linguine · sauce · pasta · spread · herbaceous · creamy · blender · fusilli
delicacy
Refined sensitivity or rarity
specialty · culinary · premium · luxury · epicurean · connoisseur · prized · refined · quality · authentic
antipasto
Italian appetizer course
- bruschettaGrilled bread with toppings
- risottoCreamy Italian grain dish
- focacciaOiled Italian flatbread with herbs
sundried tomatoes · Tuscany · capers · salad · arugula · radicchio · prosciutto · dolci · trattoria · Sicilian