Today Calls For Green Goodies!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, all! If you’re anything like us, you enjoy celebrating holidays with a special treat the whole family can enjoy. One dessert that we particularly love making on St. Patrick’s Day is homemade pistachio pudding. You might be familiar with the instant variety that comes in a box, but as soon as we tasted this slightly sweet, deliciously nutty recipe, we knew we couldn’t go back.
Start by pouring 2 cups of whole milk into a saucepan. Place it on the stove over medium-low heat, and let it heat up until small bubbles appear on its surface and it’s just barely steaming. Whisk 1 to 2 tbsp. of pistachio nut paste into the milk and let it continue to heat, whisking constantly, until the paste has dissolved.
In a separate bowl, stir together 3 tbsp. of cornstarch, ½ cup of granulated sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the dry ingredients to the milk 1 tbsp. at a time, stirring it constantly with the whisk to keep lumps from forming.
Keep stirring the mixture over medium-low heat until it thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove the saucepan from the stove and stir in 2 tbsp. of unsalted butter, 1 tsp. of pure vanilla extract and ½ to ¾ cup of finely chopped raw pistachios. If desired, you can also add a few drops of green food coloring to get that emerald tinge that suits the holiday so perfectly.
Pour the pudding into individual serving dishes or one large glass bowl. Cover and chill for at least three hours. Serve the pudding topped with homemade whipped cream, extra crushed pistachios and maraschino cherries.
Do you have a favorite St. Patrick’s Day feast item, besides the usual corned beef and cabbage? Tell us!
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