Get ready to go nuts because February 26^th is National Pistachio Nut Day! When you were a kid, did you get red pistachio nuts that left your fingers all stained? Yeah, us too! It turns out that the coloring was there to hide flaws in the shell and make the nuts stand out more in vending machines.

Well, we don’t need any food coloring to make us pay attention to pistachios. Pistachios are so good – smooth and slightly sweet, plus they’re irresistibly crunchy. These tree nuts are loved all over the world. In Iran, pistachios are known as the smiling nut and in China, they are called the happy nut.

When it comes to cooking, pistachios are delicious in both sweet and savory recipes. Check out these Easy and Creative Ways to Use More Pistachios in Your Meals. Then enjoy these 8 Must-Try Vegan Recipes for National Pistachio Day that we shared last year. For this year, we are green with delight for these 21 sweet and savory recipes with pistachio nuts.

1. Sweet Potato Coconut Curry with Cranberries and Pistachios

This rich and creamy Sweet Potato Coconut Curry with Cranberries and Pistachios will be your new favorite! It’s made with sweet potato, coconut milk, and cranberries. Then it’s topped with pistachio nuts for a little bit of crunch factor. Serve it on a bed of steamed brown jasmine rice, or your grain of choice.

2. Zucchini Bread With Fennel Seeds and Pistachios

This Zucchini Bread with Fennel Seeds and Pistachios is sweet and savory at the same time. It features two types of squash, three types of flours, and chopped pistachios and fennel seeds to make it hearty and grainy. It’s the right type of bread for a sweet treat, a nice breakfast, and even just snacking.

3. Pistachio-Chocolate Truffles

These Pistachio-Chocolate Truffles are so good and healthier than they taste. You’ll think you’re just eating a rich chocolate, but really you’re eating dates and cocoa powder. These beauties are gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan. As for the booze inside the truffles, these have rum, bourbon, red wine, and other flavored liqueurs would taste just as good!

4. Cardamom Pistachio Rose Energy Bites

These Cardamom Pistachio Rose Energy Balls are an amazing pick-me-up throughout the day. The flavor draws on that of the Middle East where pistachio baklava and rose Turkish delights are often found in pastry shops and markets. Their exotic, sweet and satisfying flavor comes from just a few simple ingredients: pistachios, cardamom, and rose water.

5. Pistachio Almond Tofu

Forget bread crumbs. Ground pistachios and almonds give this Pistachio Almond Tofu extra flavor and a delightful crunchy coating. You can have this nutty tofu as an entree for dinner, put it in a sandwich, or use it to top a salad – it’s super versatile and gluten-free!

6. Fudgy Chocolate Pistachio and Pumpkin Seed Butter Cookies

These Fudgy Chocolate Pistachio and Pumpkin Seed Butter Cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The secret ingredient is the pumpkin seed butter. These are gooey, fudgy, and a real crowd-pleaser. Better make a double batch just to be sure you get one.

7. Chickpea and Pistachio Falafel

Try these Chickpea and Pistachio Falafel for a fun change on the classic dish. It’s so simple to make and so delicious. The addition of pistachio nuts adds some crunch and a delightfully nutty flavor. You’ll have a hard time resisting these fresh out of the oven. We understand.

8. Pistachio Pesto Pasta

Pesto with basil and pine nuts is great but making it with pistachio nuts like in this Pistachio Pesto Pasta is amazing! Pistachios, spinach, and fresh basil pesto tops this amazing gluten-free pasta dish. It’s so easy to make, so it’ll save time on busy weekdays!

9. Toasted Quinoa Cereal with Pistachios and Figs

This Toasted Quinoa Cereal with Pistachio and Figs is crunchy, toasty, and packed with protein. This spiced quinoa makes a great topper for coconut yogurt, fruit smoothies, or pair it with non-dairy milk and eat it as a cereal. If you’re bored of the same old breakfast cereal, this is the way to spice up your mornings.

10. Edamame Pistachio Hummus

Plain hummus is pretty great, but what would happen if pistachios and edamame were added into the mix? Pure yumminess, that’s what! Eat this Edamame Pistachio Hummus with crackers, chips, or veggies, or use as a spread on sandwiches or veggie burgers. It’s so easy being green.

11. Salty Sweet Pistachio Crisps

Forget the bagged chips and make these Salty Sweet Pistachio Crisps instead. These addictive little crisps come together so easily, thanks to the magic of store-bought wonton wrappers. This is a perfect recipe for those times when you need to make a last minute “fancy” snack that everyone will go crazy for.

12. Vanilla Madeleines with Chocolate and Pistachio Ganache

These Vanilla Madeleines with Chocolate and Pistachio Ganache look sophisticated but they really aren’t hard to make. Light and tender, these cookies are decorated with a rich chocolate pistachio ganache that’s so good, you’ll be tempted to just dunk the whole cookie in.

13. Pomegranate and Pistachio Chocolate Fudge

This Pomegranate and Pistachio Chocolate Fudge is so decadent and mouthwatering. Pomegranate arils, pistachios, chocolate, peanut butter, and a hint of orange make for an unbelievable flavor combination. When you bite into this fudge, the juice from pomegranate arils burst open with their natural sweetness, enhancing the flavors of the other ingredients. Seriously, prepare to have this fudge rock your world.

14. Cardamom Layer Cake with Rose Cream and Pistachios

This Cardamom Layer Cake with Rose Cream and Pistachios is almost too beautiful to cut into … almost. Ground cardamom seeds give it a distinct flavor while the coconut rose cream provides a luscious topping. Garnish it with pistachio nuts for color and crunch.

15. Pistachio Crème Brulee  

This Pistachio Creme Brûlée looks so fancy and so beautiful but relax; it’s really not hard to make at all. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, the complexity in flavor with its burnt sugar and pistachio vanilla bean custard make this deserving of any table.

16. Blanched Broccoli with Fresh Herbs and Pistachios

This Blanched Broccoli with Fresh Herbs and Pistachios is a yummy side dish or a plant-tastic main course. Packed with healthy ingredients like broccoli, mushrooms, onions, and garlic, this dish will satisfy your taste buds and your body. Fresh herbs and pistachios add bright flavor and crunch to this simple yet lovely dish.

17. Raw Chocolate Bark with Pistachios and Edible Flowers

This Raw Chocolate Bark with Pistachios and Edible Flowers is going to be your new favorite treat. It’s simple to make, quick, easy, and absolutely delightful! It’s got rich chocolate, creamy almond butter, crunchy pistachios, and beautiful edible flowers. This would make a lovely gift if you could bear to give it away.

18. Stuffed Mushrooms with Lemony Asparagus and Pistachios

Mushrooms are the star of the show in these Stuffed Mushrooms with Lemony Asparagus and Pistachios. With asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon, and fresh thyme, these are bright and flavorful. Pistachios add crunch to these treats that make the perfect appetizer or party food.

19. Pistachio Crusted Tofu with a Prickly Pear Sauce

Prickly Pear is so completely underrated. It sits there all unassuming until you cut into it and then it’s the most beautiful vibrant shade of red. Made into a sauce, it’s a delicious addition to this Pistachio Crusted Tofu. It’s refreshing, light and subtly sweet. This is a nice change from the usual tofu dishes.

20. Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars

You are just three ingredients away from making the most delicious energy bars of your life! These Cherry Pistachio Energy Bars have sweet cherries and nutty pistachios that complement each other so well. Dates allow them to stick all together in one big happy dough ball. Take these with you wherever you go for a yummy energy boost.

21. Raw 7-Layer Bliss Bars

These Raw 7-Layer Bliss Bars get their name from the fact that these are seriously seven layers of pure bliss! Peppermint, chocolate, and pistachio add a touch of seasonal flavor while everything else is like icing on the cake … or bar.

Everyone knows that pistachio nuts make great snacks. Now try them in your recipes – they’re the perfect addition to both sweet and savory dishes.

Lead Image Photo: Raw 7-Layer Bliss Bars