In A Nut Shell

Roasted pecans, oh how we love thee

Roasted pecans are an important part of the winter holidays for many families. There’s nothing that captures the spirit of the holidays like the taste of a rich, fragrant roasted pecan… the dusky, woodsy smell, the piquant crunch, the smooth buttery texture, and of course, that incredible roasted pecan flavor. Like a fine wine, a good roasted pecan has hints of almond and vanilla. When you bite into a freshly roasted pecan, you can almost smell the snap of winter in the air, or the scent of a warm wool sweater and pine needles from the wreath upon the door.

Part of the reason roasted pecans are so evocative of the holidays is their presence in essential comfort foods like pecan praline and pecan pie. (Oh, roasted pecan pie!) The roasted pecan season peaks with the pecan harvest in mid-October, mostly coming from Georgia, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The pecan tree is the state tree of Texas, and pecans were particularly close to the heart of turn-of-the-century Texas Governor James Hogg.

Roasted pecans: nutrition

Roasted and salted pecans may taste buttery and sinful, but surprisingly, roasted pecans are good for you. Full of protein and rich in unsaturated fats, the oils of the roasted pecan are good oils that, as part of a balanced diet, are effective at reducing cholesterol levels. Roasted pecans also contain antioxidants and sterols that reduce harmful cholesterol in the body.

In fact, according to a 2001 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, a handful of pecans eaten daily can reduce blood cholesterol levels at about the same rate as anti-cholesterol pharmaceuticals. As if that weren’t enough, both roasted pecans and fresh pecans are considered low fat by the US Food and Drug Administration. Roasted pecans contain vitamins E and A as well as calcium, folic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, some B vitamins, and anti-carcinogenic elements. And in 2003, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a review of nut research that concluded that roasted pecans may help with weight loss because they increase metabolic rates and, partly because of their robust flavor and texture, help the diner feel more full with less food.

Roasted pecans: history

According to the National Pecan Shellers Association, pecans are the only native American tree nut, and roasted pecans were a favorite snack of early Americans - both native Americans and European colonists. The word “pecan” actually is Algonquin in origin. Both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington cultivated pecan trees, and probably enjoyed many a roasted pecan at their dinner tables.

Roasted pecans: tips on picking and storing pecans

The best roasted pecans are the plump pecan halves that are all one golden color. Shelled nuts are remarkably long-lived; shelled pecans can last about nine months under refrigeration and two years in a freezer. In-shell pecans are good for about six to twelve months when stored in a cool, dry place.

Round out your holiday with a few roasted pecans

Don’t forget to stock up on roasted pecans for your pantry. Not only are they a tasty snack, but they can help your heart. Keep a few roasted pecans around for satisfying the munchies. Use roasted pecans instead of heavy processed snacks or oily tortilla chips. And when you’re in the kitchen, don’t be afraid to toss a few pecan pieces on the top of a casserole or dessert. They add flavor and crunch and they fit perfectly with the season.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2007 at 7:09 pm and is filed under pecans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.