Sweet and Spiced Pecans

 

I got introduced to Pecans after moving to Texas. Pecans are glory of southern states. The pecan tree is also the State tree of Texas.  When I was working at the hospital, I had a friend who made delicious pecan pie and bring it for us. But when I asked him the recipe, he told me it is a family secret, so it shouldn’t be given out. In the end I didn’t get the recipe.

Last Christmas my hubby’s co-worker gave him a box full of pecan as gift.  Now that I had pecan in hand, I needed to use it.  And I went in search of a recipe, and also I was planning to make a pecan pie for a long time. I researched lots of recipes in internet and also watched a show of America’s test kitchen. But when I saw some of the recipes were using corn syrup, my pie making sprit come to an end.

According to me pecans are better tasting than walnuts, so I used them in banana bread and Armenian nutmeg cake etc when recipes called for walnuts.   Even though pecans are not as   rich in Omega fatty acids like Walnuts they are good alternative for walnut.  Pecans are a good source of protein and unsaturated fats. I have some pecans left even after making banana bread and Nutmeg cake.  When I saw recipe of candied pecans in Smitten Kitchen as well as my friend Alea’s blog Premeditated leftovers, I got courage to try this recipe. Alea used chai spice, where as Deb used cinnamon and cayenne pepper.

I also decide to add hot chili powder, ground cloves, ginger, cinnamon, all spice, and cardamom to my candied nuts. I used brown sugar and an egg white at room temperature. It is really tasty; I am going to try with almonds and walnut too.  I don’t think peanuts or cashews will be a good candidate for this recipe.

Try if you can get hold of some pecans, it is the best homemade gift you would most likely make.  Start munching when you are watching nail biting stunt or serious movies or even a good game. Here goes the recipe.

One year ago: Mirchi Zunka/ Bell peppers cooked with chickpea flour

Two year ago:  CCB thoran/ CCB stir fry

Print recipe from here

What you need

Pecans halves : 2cup

Brown sugar: 1/3 cup

Egg white: 1 no

Ground ginger: 1/4 teaspoon

Cinnamon: 1/4 teaspoon

Red chili powder: 1/4 teaspoon

Cardamom: 2no

All spice: 1/8 teaspoon

Ground cloves: 1/8 teaspoon
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon

How I made

Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside. 

In a medium bowl, beat egg white until they are foamy.

Add sugar and spices to the egg white and combine very well so that there should be not lumps.

Add nuts to mixture and  stir well  so that all the nuts gets coat with spice mixture.

Spread nuts in a thin layer on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring half way through the baking.

Remove from oven, and separate nuts with fork as they cool. When completely cool, pour the nuts into a bowl, breaking up any that stick together.

Enjoy

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Yeild: 2 cups

Verdict:  Yumm

Will you make it again: Yes I will

I am linking this to Hearth and Soul Blog hop # 101 hosted here.