July 12th is National Pecan Day in the United States, so this week we’ll be talking about America’s favorite nuts. Whether you call it a PEE-can or a puh-KAWN (and there is some heated debate over the issue!), it provides flavor, texture and essential nutrients to our cooking.

Pecan season

In the United States, pecan nuts are grown mainly in the southern half of the country, with Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Georgia leading national production.

Although you can find them year-round in supermarkets, the best season to get fresh pecans is between July and January, so we are right in time to stock our pantry!

How about a slice of scrumptious Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie, by Linh (left); or a homey Apple pecan spice dump cake, by Carrie (right)?

A great advantage of pecans is that they are very durable: they keep for up to nine months in airtight jars in the fridge, and up to two years if frozen in sealable plastic bags! Also, pecans are one of the few ingredients that you can defrost and refreeze multiple times without altering their flavor. Once you remove them from the freezer or refrigerator, they will keep for up to two months in a cool, dark environment.

What's in a nut?

A pecan is a real nutritional bomb! It contains more than 19 essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, E, B complex, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, etc.

But not only that: an ounce of walnuts gives you 10% of the recommended daily fiber, in addition to being a high source of protein, with very few carbohydrates and no cholesterol! And it is also ideal for those who follow a low-sodium diet, because pecans have no sodium at all!

Among the tastiest of snacks: Brad's Bourbon candied pecans (left) by wingmaster835; icancervive10's Toffee pecan cookies (right)

Ideas for the kitchen

For starters, a good handful of pecans is an ideal snack for those concentrating in front of the computer, or to substitute popcorn when watching a movie or TV series. We recommend you toast the walnuts for 2 minutes in a pan over medium heat: the warmth enhances their flavor!

Many of us know the traditional pecan pies and poundcakes, and they are sensationally delicious! But pecans are so versatile that they have many other uses in the kitchen! For example:

  • Blend them in a food processor and use them instead of bread to coat chicken, fish, meats, or vegetables;
  • use ground pecans instead of flour or cornstarch to thicken sauces;
  • add them to your smoothies for a refreshing and nutritious drink;
  • pecans are ideal substitutes for animal proteins in vegan dishes;
  • make pecan butter (the same way you make peanut butter) and enjoy it spread on toast;
  • grind frozen pecans and bake them until dry. You now have pecan flour, which will give an incredible flavor if you mix it with your normal flour when making pancakes and waffles!
Unexpected pecans! On the left, Adrianne Meszaros' yummy Butternut Squash Soup with Pecan Crumble; on the right, Cast Iron Soulé's Honey Pecan Coconut Crusted London Broil

If you want more ideas on how to incorporate pecans into your daily kitchen, we have more than two thousand recipes with them in Cookpad!