Pecans are one of the most favorite nuts in the world. They are often used as an ingredient to make various types of dishes and desserts. The best thing about pecans is that you can actually leave them in their natural state and they would still taste great. However, you can actually enhance the buttery flavor of raw pecans by toasting or roasting them. Toasted pecans leave you with more options to try new recipes. In order to achieve that perfect buttery flavor, you will need to make sure to toast the nuts the right way.
Properly toasted pecans can be used as a primary ingredient for various types of salads, desserts, as well as for meat and fish recipes. The first thing you need to do is to know how to choose the right kind of pecans. Ideally, you should go for the plump ones that are golden brown or cream in color. If you are buying shelled pecans then you have to check that it do not have cracks, molds or holes.
After you have bought quality pecans, you can start sautéing them in a pan. Your goal is to prevent the nuts from burning in order to properly eliminate the nut’s raw flavor. This will bring out the pecan’s rich and smoky flavor.
Apart from using the pan to sauté pecans, you can also use the oven to toast pecans. When roasting pecans in an oven, you’ll need to obtain the following
• 2 cups of pecan
• baking sheet
• butter, cooking spray or cooking oil
Once you have these three items with you, you can start with the entire process by preheating the oven to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the oven then start spraying a light coating of cooking oil or spray to your baking sheet. You can enhance the flavor of the nuts by adding in three tablespoons of sea salt and melted butter.
Afterwards, spread the nuts on the baking sheet; make sure they are evened out. Leave them to bake in the oven for around 10 to 15 minutes. You will know they are done once the nuts omit that luscious smell. Due to this reason, it is best if you stay nearby while they bake.
Once you take the nuts out from the oven, you’ll notice that they’ll continue to turn brown. This is the main reason why you need to take them out immediately since pecans tend to burn quickly. After a few minutes, allow the nuts to cool by setting them on top of a paper towel.
Once you have gotten the hang of making toasted pecans you can try other variations. Aside from coating them with plain melted butter and sea salt, you can also coat them with black pepper, allspice and honey prior to baking. To add a more exotic flavor, you can toss them in a falafel mix or you can even add various types of spices such as cayenne pepper or cinnamon. It doesn’t really matter what you add to your nuts to enhance the flavor just as long as it’s healthy to eat.