Basil Pine Nut Biscotti Recipes

BASIL PINE NUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Toast pine nuts in pie pan, in oven for 8-10 minutes.
• Beat together butter, Parmesan, basil, lemon zest, eggs and milk.
• Mix in flour and baking powder. Add pine nuts.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper.
• Shape dough in a 15 inch long, 1/2 inch thick rectangle. Place on baking sheet and bake 15 minutes.
• Turn oven down to 325°F.
• Remove dough from sheet and cut into 1/2 inch wide slices. Place slices cut side down on lined baking sheet and bake 40-50 minutes.
• Cool and store in airtight container.

ORANGE AND BASIL BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the sugar and butter in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle. Cream the mixture until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure to mix well before each addition. Add the orange zest and basil and blend on low speed, about 30 seconds.
• Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture to the standing mixer and beat until combined. Fold in the almonds.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough in half. Using floured hands, shape the dough into logs. Brush off the excess flour. Place the logs on the baking sheet, spaced 5 inches apart.
• Flatten each log into a 2-inch-wide strip. Bake the logs, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until browned and set, about 30 minutes. Transfer the logs to a cooling rack and cool, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Transfer the logs to a work surface. Cut each log diagonally into 1/3-inch-thick slices using a serrated knife. Arrange the slices, cut-side down, on the baking sheet. Bake the slices, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until crisp, about 20 minutes. Transfer the slices to the cooling racks and let cool.
• The biscotti can be made 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

ROSEMARY PINE-NUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the pine nuts on a baking sheet, place in the oven and toast for six to eight minutes. Transfer the nuts to a bowl and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Meanwhile, sift the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder together and set aside.
• Beat the eggs lightly, just until they are blended in a mixing bowl with a whisk or in an electric mixer. Remove two tablespoons of the egg mixture to a small dish and set aside. Beat the sugar into the remaining eggs until blended. Stir in the vanilla, rosemary and lemon zest, then stir in the flour mixture to form a soft dough.
• Divide the dough in half and place one portion on a well-floured work surface. With floured hands, pat it into a six-inch square. Scatter half the pine nuts on the dough and press them into the surface. Roll the dough into a cylinder about 2 inches in diameter and 12 to 15 inches long. Place on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough. Brush the tops of both cylinders with the reserved egg.
• Place the cylinders in the oven and bake about 15 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch. Transfer to a cutting board and cut on an angle into slices one-half-inch thick. Return the slices to the baking sheet, standing them up, and return them to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes, until they are crisp and dry. Allow them to cool completely before storing or serving.

DRIED FRUIT AND NUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl.
• Add eggs, nuts and fruit.
• Mix well.
• Put into a greased loaf pan and bake on 180 degrees for about 40 minutes.
• Cool and turn out of pan.
• Slice loaf as thinly as possible and layer on large oven tray.
• Reduce oven to low temperature and place tray in oven to dry out biscotti for approximately another 40 minutes.

PINE NUT AND BASIL RICE

Steps:

• In a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan cook pine nuts in oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer pine nuts to a bowl. Add rice to oil in pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, 1 minute. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover rice and cook over very low heat until water is absorbed and rice is tender, about 18 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let rice stand, undisturbed, 5 minutes.
• Finely chop basil. Fluff rice with a fork and stir in basil, pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste.