Purchasing Pine Nuts

Yes they are usually expensive. Try shelling pine cones yourself. it's not easy.

Whole foods might have them in the bulk section. Probably around 20 bucks a pound though.

They are usually much more expensive if you buy them in small packs, but if that's all you can find, I guess it will have to do.

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? I got some at the one in BR yesterday--8 oz for $5.99, which is more than enough to do pesto.

Costco/Sam's have much larger bags, but I think they're like $15-$20.

FWIW, you can use walnuts in pesto also...it tastes slightly different, but it's still good.

ETA: The ones nateslu1 posted from Amazon are what they have at the Trader Joe's near me, along with a dry roasted variety. (I think I've used both at different times but I prefer the roasted ones.) That's ridiculous that Amazon is charging almost twice the price as the stores.

Walnuts work fine and I even used raw cashews last week, tho they are expensive too

Evidently sunflower seeds work too

I don't toast mine. I like the bite that they have raw. Sams occasionally has large packs but Albertsons has them and they are not to expensive. I mean you aren't using tons of them.

And in addition to the nuts others posted I make pistachio pesto a lot and add sun dried tomatoes.

Yep! Costco or Sam's. I used to put them in the Milanese sauce I made for St.Joseph Day feeding.

I've never had a problem finding them. I've even found good priced bags in the Mexican spice sections of stores. Walnuts will be fine as mentioned.

I'll occasionally find the Alessi brand in the pasta isle (pignoli nuts). I like mine toasted but as others have said don't be afraid to try other nuts.

You can make pestu with out the pine nuts. Really green- almost chimi churi ish.. Nice with white flaky fish... Just a thought if of have a shite ton of basil