Calorie content and composition of pecan. What benefits can be brought to the body by the components contained in an exotic nut. Who better not to eat them? A product in cooking: how it is eaten and how it is prepared. And these are not all the beneficial properties of pecans. American scientists call their national nut a superfood that can, to one degree or another, have a positive effect on absolutely all systems of the human body, saturate with useful components, and trigger defense mechanisms for treatment and recovery. That is why it is often used to prepare high school high school meals.
Contraindications and harm of pecan
However, there are also such categories of persons who need to be careful to eat this nut.
Contraindications to the introduction of pecan in the diet:
- Gastrointestinal problems … Since this product is three-quarters fat, it can be uncomfortable for people with gastrointestinal problems. In particular, it can provoke nausea in those who suffer from cholelithiasis.
- A tendency to bloating and diarrhea … High fat content can also be harmful here. If you periodically suffer from interruptions in the work of the intestines, it is better to refrain from eating nuts. Flatulence and diarrhea are almost guaranteed.
- Excess weight … Despite the high calorie content of pecan, it awakens the appetite very strongly. Therefore, it is not recommended for overweight people to eat it, as it provokes to eat more than you need.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding … This is an absolute contraindication for almost all products that are not historically genetic for us. Any exotic nut can cause exacerbation of chronic diseases and individual intolerance. Even if you consumed pecans before pregnancy and breastfeeding, changes in hormonal levels can affect its absorption. Therefore, for the period of gestation and lactation, it is wiser to completely abandon its use.
- Individual intolerance … Nuts are quite strong allergens. Therefore, if you suffer from food allergies, we recommend starting with the test and only if there is no unwanted reaction to eat them.
- Childhood … As you know, the digestive system is not fully formed in children. In the body of a small person, there may not be enzymes to process the components of the product.
How to eat pecans
Since the fruits ripen in October, it is better to choose them within three to four months after harvest. The fact is that due to the high fat content, pecans acquire a rancid taste during long-term storage. They lose not only taste, but also quality, becoming less useful, and sometimes even harmful to the body.
If you buy inshell nuts, shake them. Fresh fruits respond with a barely audible sound, old ones crackle loudly. This is due to a decrease in their size when they dry, which allows them to beat against the inside of the shell.
Often there are problems with the splitting of nuts, since the fruit is deformed when opened. To make the shell easier to give in, pour cold water over the product and bring to a boil. Let cool with the lid closed. Dry and prick with nut tongs.
If you want to preserve the flavor of the pecans without sacrificing usefulness, store the fruits (both peeled and in the shell) in a dark, dry, cool place. The refrigerator compartment is ideal for vegetables.
The question remains, how is pecans eaten? And as your heart desires! They can be eaten raw or fried. Someone likes these nuts in combination with salt and spices, while someone prefers glazing with cane sugar or chocolate.
Many people like to serve them with soft types of cheese - Camembert, Brie, Roquefort, with honey and grapes to white wine. And someone sees pecans only as an addition to dessert or baked goods. In short, it is a wonderful product, suitable for a variety of settings and meeting the needs of even the most discerning connoisseurs of gastronomy.
Pecan food and drink recipes
Due to the fact that pecans look very similar to walnuts, they often try to replace it with it. However, as the culinary experts note, these products have completely different tastes in dishes, therefore they are not an alternative to each other.
How to cook pecans is best known in New Orleans - this American city is considered their homeland. And the most popular dish with them served in the jazz capital of the world is American Pecan Pie … It is believed that this flavor can only be achieved with this nut and no other.
There are many options for making a cake, but this recipe is considered a classic. Mix 175 g flour with 125 g softened butter and a pinch of salt. Add three tablespoons of ice water to the dough, grind thoroughly. If it doesn't stick, add water again.
Divide the dough into 4 portions. Wrap each part in plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Roll the chilled dough into a cake, put in a mold with an allowance on the side of 2-3 cm on all sides. Place in the freezer with the baking dish for 15 minutes.
Melt 225 g of butter, add 225 g of cane sugar, stir until completely dissolved in the butter, remove from the stove, pour in 150 g of molasses, 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence, 3 tablespoons of rum, a pinch of salt. Then you need to let the future filling cool.
Remove the dough from the freezer, add a load - two cups of beans, bake in an oven preheated to 190 ° C for 10-12 minutes. Cool, remove the load.
Beat 3 eggs until frothy and gently add this mixture to the filling. Add 2.5 cups of chopped pecans to it, mix well, pour into a baked base pan. Return to oven for another 50 minutes. Then you need to get it out, let it cool completely. Garnish with whole pecans and serve with ice cream and whipped cream.
The widespread distribution of pecans to all continents has made pecans a popular ingredient in other equally delicious dishes:
- Salad with nuts and capers … For those who like hearty salads with a fresh touch, it will appeal to your taste buds. The combination of yogurt and mustard in the sauce will appeal to lovers of mayonnaise dressings, as it is a useful alternative to the most popular dressing in our country. Boil large chicken fillets in salted water. Cool, cut into medium sized cubes. Mix 50 ml of yogurt with 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard, a pinch of salt, sugar and 1 tablespoon of capers. Take 200 g of grapes of different varieties. The more flowers, the more beautiful the salad will turn out. Cut the grapes in half, add them to the chicken, season with the sauce, stir gently so as not to crush the grapes. Sprinkle 50 g of crushed pecan on top.
- Pork chops … The meat prepared according to this recipe turns out to be very aromatic and piquant - with a slight sweetness and softness inherent in pork. The pecan flavor will add a special note of astringency to the meat. Take two pork entrecotes, rinse them, dry with towels, beat lightly. Combine a tablespoon of flour, a pinch of salt and black pepper. Dip the chops in this mixture. Melt 20 g of butter in a skillet, fry the chops on both sides until the meat juice becomes transparent. Remove the meat from the pan while it is still hot, add 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of chopped pecans to the pan. Fry for a minute, pour over the chops with this sauce, serve immediately.
- Mushroom cutlets … Vegetarians will especially enjoy this dish. The nut will very subtly set off the aroma of mushrooms and add richness to the taste. Grind 600 g of washed mushrooms in a food processor, meat grinder or blender. Send 200 g of parsley there. Spread 2 finely chopped onions and 1 coarse grated carrot over high heat. Transfer the vegetables to the mushrooms, add 2 tablespoons of flour, a pinch of salt, a pinch of ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon of oregano, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sour cream, 50 g of finely chopped pecans. Stir, let it brew for an hour. Form cutlets from the mass, dip in breadcrumbs, fry over high heat for 3-5 minutes on each side.
- Pecan praline … As you know, the classic praline is made from almonds, but many believe that pecans are more suitable for this sweet, as it makes it less cloying. To prepare it, mix 200 g of condensed milk with 200 g of cane sugar, 30 g of cocoa and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cook until sugar dissolves. Add 200 g of pecans, ground into flour, to the sugar mass, cook until the liquid evaporates and the mixture becomes soft. Spoon the praline and place it on the parchment, refrigerate and serve.
As it turned out, pecans can be found not only in dishes, but also in drinks:
- Spicy compote … Cut 250 g of dates in half and remove the seeds. Peel the oranges, cut them into wedges, send them to the oranges. Add the zest and juice of 1 lemon, 4 tablespoons of honey, 1 liter of freshly squeezed orange juice and 150 g of pecans, ground in a blender. Toss in a couple of cinnamon sprigs and a few rosettes of cloves. Put on fire, bring to a boil, turn off, let it brew for an hour at room temperature and overnight in the refrigerator. Serve with a ball of ice cream or whipped cream.
- Coffee noir … This is an American recipe, so it requires a lot of water in the drink. Pour 200 ml of water into a Turk, add 1 tablespoon of freshly ground coffee and 1 teaspoon each of chicory and grated pecans. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Let it boil twice, let it brew for a couple of minutes, serve without sugar.
Even with a cursory study of the variety of dishes with pecans, it can be noted that it is most often found in tandem with desserts and pastries. However, there are many recipes with it for meat dishes, salads and snacks. The use of walnut in them is considered a sign of the sophistication of the table and makes the menu original and piquant.
Interesting Pecan Facts
As we already mentioned, America is considered his homeland, namely New Orleans. It was here that the French colonists began to bake a pie with nuts offered to them by the locals. The public liked the dish so much that it became national and associated with this city.
The large-scale cultivation of pecans began in the 80s of the nineteenth century, and after a couple of decades, New Orleans became the most famous capital of jazz, mafia and gangsters. The nut has even been dubbed "gangster nut", as the business of growing it has repeatedly become the subject of mobsters' skirmishes.
Locals loved not only dishes with him, but also coffee, and nut-infused liqueurs, and other strong alcoholic drinks. These traditions are honored in New Orleans today.
Watch the video about pecans:
As you can see, this is a nut with a history. Although no legend could have made it popular if it were not tasty and healthy. Treating yourself to the product, do not forget about the sense of proportion. And even if it seems to you that at the same time you begin to whistle the jazz tunes of Louis Armstrong or Nina Simone, stop in time, as pecans can harm gluttons.
