Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees (family Pinaceae, genus Pinus). About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of value as a human food.

Stone Pine cone with pine nuts - note two nuts under each cone scale

Pine nuts contain about 31 grams of protein per 100 grams of nuts, the highest of any nut or seed.  They are also a source of dietary fibre. Pine nuts are an essential component of pesto, and are frequently added to meat, fish, and vegetable dishes. They are in particular used in the Cuisine of southwestern France, in dishes such as the salade landaise. They are also used in chocolates and desserts such as baklava.

Korean Pine pine nuts - unshelled, and shell, above; shelled, below

Pine nuts are called piñones in Spanish and pinoli or pignoli (locally also pinoccoli or pinocchi; Pinocchio means 'pine nut') in Italian. The pignoli cookie, an Italian speciality confection, is made of almond flour formed in to a dough similar to that of a coconut macaroon and then topped with pine nuts. In the U.S., they are mainly harvested by Native American tribes; in many areas, they have exclusive rights to the harvest.