Pine nuts and allergy to tree nuts.

Lucid

So, I've been wanting to eat pesto recently, however when I looked at the ingredients it lists pine nuts. I am allergic to tree nuts, but not peanuts(legume). I've tried googling this, but there seems to be conflicing statements. Apparently they're a seed. I'm wondering if anyone here knows anything about this? I am planning to see if my doctor can refer me to some kind of allergy specific practioner, though I thought I'd stop by here and see if anyone knows anything.

RUNN1NGMAN

Well, aren't all tree nuts a form of seed?

You could always make it yourself and substitute something else. People often substitute walnuts (which obviously doesn't help you) but there might be something else that would work. Worst-case, just don't use nuts. All they do is add texture, it won't be horrible without them.

xa52

Agreed. Herbs and oil are the only required components of a pesto. You can change the herbs, and optionally add things like nuts/seeds, garlic, cheese, etc depending on what you're going to use it for. Make your own pesto, and leave out the nuts, or use something that you know is a seed. Maybe sunflower seeds and basil?

edit-
Wikipedia says it's a nut-like gymnosperm seed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_edible_seeds

But don't, like, eat them and die based on that.

Fats

Pine nuts aren't a "true nut", so you may or may not be sensitive to them. The only way to be sure is to talk to an allergist.

Omnicron9999

I cant say this 100% for you, but a friend of mine is allergic to peanuts, and she is allergic to pine nuts as well. So maybe they'll be OK for you?

I agree that making pesto without the pine nuts wouldn't really hurt it at all. So it might just be better safe than sorry.

cubelover

Omnicron9999 wrote: »

I cant say this 100% for you, but a friend of mine is allergic to peanuts, and she is allergic to pine nuts as well. So maybe they'll be OK for you?

And to show just how idiosyncratic allergies are: I'm not allergic to peanuts (or many other nuts) but the oil from a single pine nut can send me into anaphylactic shock (yeah, an epi-pen has saved my life twice).

MichaelLC

Maybe add another type of hard cheese, or soy nuts?

Peanuts would prob. be good too - get unsalted and toast them. Hate to see someone miss out on something as awesome as basil pesto.

rfalias

Carry Epi-Pen
Eat Pesto
???
Profit

Edit:
Don't do this, if you really want to know, go get a scratch test.

mts

what about pistachios, they make good pesto

xa52

Fats wrote: »

Pine nuts aren't a "true nut"

'cism

Dehumanized

I'd say you're going on the right path by clearing it with your doctor. I have a pretty severe allergy and wouldn't go fucking around with things that might trigger said allergy without an A-OK from a medical professional.

Sheep

Cashews a tree nut?

Cause they make a good pesto too.

Aridhol

Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines

I would definitely check with a doctor first because Pine Nuts are essentially a nut-ish food directly from a tree