For shelled pistachios?? Wow, that's a great price as they are expensive.
I think I would have subbed another type of nut long before I shelled them. I love pistachios to shell and eat one by one but not to do all that for a recipe.
You know what else costs as much as gold---pine nuts!!! I love them but I could buy a steak for the price of a half cup of pine nuts.