3/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup pistachio nuts
1 teaspoon white sugar for garnish
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the lemon zest and salt. Combine the flour, baking powder, pistachio nuts and sugar; blend thoroughly. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
Bake for 7 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool slightly before removing from cookie sheets to wire racks to cool completely.