An Edible Mosaic™

Everyday Fare With Extraordinary Flair

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • explore world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • tex mex
    • thai
  • web stories
  • my other blog

Home » Cuisine » Arabic and Middle Eastern » Thick & Creamy Vanilla-Pistachio Drink

Thick & Creamy Vanilla-Pistachio Drink

March 8, 2013 by Faith 19 Comments

DSC_9508(small)

This drink is incredibly rich; if you’ve ever had a European hot chocolate, the thickness of this drink will probably remind you of that. But hot chocolate wasn’t my inspiration…I had sahlab in mind!

DSC_9514(small)

Sahlab is a starchy powder that’s made from dried orchids; it’s commonly used the Middle East as well as Turkey and Greece to make puddings or thick drinks, which are also called sahlab. These treats are sweetened, flavored with orange blossom water and/or rose water, and commonly garnished with pistachio, coconut, and/or a pinch of cinnamon. (For those who are interested, I have a full recipe for sahlab in my cookbook.)

Thick drinks made from sahlab are enjoyed hot, so they’re especially comforting and perfect for warming up during cold winter months. One chilly afternoon I wanted something warm, and sahlab came to mind…but I was also hungry and wanted something that would hold me over until dinner. This drink was perfect.

It’s very rich, so the small serving size is just right. It’s packed with nutrition; full of vitamins and minerals (from dates!), fiber, protein, and healthy fat, this drink is not only delicious, but healthy and completely satisfying as well.

DSC_9500(small)

Print
Thick & Creamy Vanilla-Pistachio Drink
Prep time:  5 mins
Total time:  5 mins
Yield: 1 serving
 
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (40 g) raw, unsalted cashews (see note below)
  • 2 Medjool dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon pistachio oil (such as Vom Fass Pistachio Oil)
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • ½ cup (120 ml) boiling water
  • ½ teaspoon finely chopped pistachio, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients (except the chopped pistachio) to a blender; put the lid on and let it sit for 2 minutes. (If your blender can’t take high temperature, put everything in a heat-safe bowl, cover the bowl, let it sit for 2 minutes, and then carefully pour it into a blender.)
  2. Process until smooth and creamy (be careful, it’s hot!).
  3. Pour into a small mug and sprinkle the pistachio on top; serve hot.
Notes
Cashews: Be sure to use raw, unsalted cashews here so their flavor doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of pistachio.
3.5.3251

Filed Under: Arabic and Middle Eastern, Drinks, Gluten Free Tagged: Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Hot Beverages, Naturally Sweetened, Pistachio, Sahlab, Sweet Treats, Vanilla, Warming Drinks

Comments

  1. Jean says

    March 18, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    This type of drink is very new to me but boy, do I want to have a taste. Looking forward to trying this, Faith. :)

    Reply
  2. Kevin @ Closet Cooking says

    March 11, 2013 at 7:02 pm

    This would be a really tasty drinK

    Reply
  3. Hana says

    March 11, 2013 at 3:23 am

    This sounds and looks really delicious! Something totally up my alley. A question though…could you please suggest a substitute for the pistachio oil? I don’t think I can get that over here. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Faith says

      March 11, 2013 at 7:39 am

      Hana, You could try this with any kind of nut or seed oil that you like the flavor of (such as hazelnut oil, pumpkin seed oil, etc.), or you could use a nut-flavored flavoring or extract (such as pistachio extract or hazelnut extract). Since the pistachio oil is only there for flavor, you could even skip it if you want; if you do so, maybe try the drink with roasted, unsalted cashews (instead of raw cashews) so the drink has more of a cashew flavor. Hope you enjoy it if you give it a try! :)

      Reply
  4. Allison (Spontaneous Tomato) says

    March 10, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    This sounds so delicious and decadent. And I love that it seems so creamy and rich without actually having any milk in it! Mmm… pistachios.

    Reply
  5. zerrin says

    March 10, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Faith, this definitely sounds satisfying! I love salep and this one is an amazing alternative to it. You’re so creative! Love the combination! Would be great for breakfast too!

    Reply
  6. [email protected] says

    March 9, 2013 at 6:20 am

    Wow very interesting drink, unique and healthy

    Reply
  7. Sarah @ SimplyScrumptiousBySarah says

    March 8, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    Looks Yummy!!

    Reply
  8. dixya @ food, pleasure, and health says

    March 8, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    what a delicious drink. I have never heard about sahlab- your blog post is always so informational and beautiful :)

    Reply
  9. grace says

    March 8, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    thick and creamy indeed! i’ve never had anything like this before, but i’d certainly be game to try!

    Reply
  10. Lucy says

    March 8, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Wow, sahlab sounds delicious – I love discovering completely new dishes on your blog! This looks like a very comforting and soothing drink.

    Reply
  11. Anna @ Tough Lipstick says

    March 8, 2013 at 12:38 pm

    You always have such unique recipes on here – this looks fantastic. Keep at girl!

    Reply
  12. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    March 8, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    This sounds so good, what a delicious breakfast!

    Reply
  13. Lindsey @ Pas de Deux says

    March 8, 2013 at 10:25 am

    Oh my, YUM! I will be making this very, very soon!

    Reply
  14. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says

    March 8, 2013 at 9:54 am

    This sounds AMAZING. Totally happening ASAP!

    Reply
  15. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says

    March 8, 2013 at 7:01 am

    This sounds so fabulous. I love this idea!!

    Reply
  16. Erica says

    March 8, 2013 at 6:43 am

    This is totally unique. Your blog has opened my eyes up to so many different ingredients I didn’t even know existed!

    Reply
    • Faith says

      March 8, 2013 at 9:13 am

      Erica, You are so sweet, thank you so much!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

      Reply
  17. Rosa says

    March 8, 2013 at 5:46 am

    Delightful! That is such a great drink.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Rate this recipe:  

Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

Affiliate Disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

meet faith

I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

an edible mosaic cookbook

affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

Home | About | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Contact

Copyright © 2023 | Faith Gorsky, An Edible Mosaic™ | All Rights Reserved