Pine Nuts

Pine nuts are the small, pale, edible seeds taken from pine cones, with a soft texture and a mild, buttery taste. In Lebanese cooking they are usually toasted in a little oil or butter until golden, then scattered over rice with meat, fatteh, hummus with meat and stuffed dishes, or mixed into kibbeh filling and hashweh. They also appear in sweets such as maamoul and mafroukeh, and in sauces like pesto and salads. Here they are sold raw and by the kilo, so you can take just the amount you need. You can find pine nuts at Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, a package-free grocery store where customers are encouraged to bring their own containers and refill them, cutting down on plastic and single-use packaging.