Fried Candied Pecans-dip them in chocolate for even more deliciousness!
Now don’t everyone go running from that word “fried.” If you live in the south for any period of time, you’ve had some fried food.
Fried Okra, Fried Chicken, Fried fish-nothing beats a good old fashioned fish fry.
Country Fried Steak, Fried Ham, Fried Green Tomatoes-they even named a movie after it.
Fried Apples, And if you go to the fair, you’ll find fried twinkies, fried cheesecake, you name it and they’ll drop it in some hot oil.
And of course Fried Turkey. Have you ever had deep fried turkey? It’s to die for. So juicy and tender, not at all greasy, full of flavor. We become like ravenous dogs fighting over the skin on a fried turkey. The only reason we don’t have a fried turkey every year is I want the drippings from an oven roasted turkey to make the gravy. Nothing better than gravy made from drippings.
So since we got new pecans in, I wanted to clean out the freezer of last year’s pecans. I still had 2 big gallon bags of them left. I immediately thought of Fried Pecans. Every time I’ve had them, they’ve been fried in Peanut oil, usually right before frying up that turkey, to help season the oil. I didn’t have peanut oil in the house and didn’t want to run to the store just to buy oil. Google to the rescue. What surprised me was not that I could use regular vegetable oil but every search result was coming up for a recipe that used sugar. This was not what I was used to.
I can’t tell you how glad I am that I did that search. We now have a new treat in this house. A little sweet, a little salty, I’ve got so many ideas to use these pecans! So here are 2 recipes for Fried Pecans, The way I was always used to, just fried and salted and our new favorite, Fried Candied Pecans!
Fried Pecans-this is what we’ve always had
4 cups pecans
oil for frying (vegetable, corn, canola)
Sea salt
In a medium pan, fill with oil about 2 inches deep. Heat over medium low.
Blanche your pecans. Fill a large pot halfway full with water. Bring to a boil and add pecans. Boil pecans for one minute then drain in a strainer. Rinse pecans with hot water.
Turn oil up to medium. Heat to 350 degrees. Test oil with 1 pecan. If, when you drop the pecan into the oil, bubbles form around the pecan, your oil is ready. Add 1-2 cups of pecans to your hot oil and fry for 4 minutes. Remove pecans from oil to drain on paper towels. Salt to taste. Repeat with remaining pecans.
Fried Candied Pecans-our new family treat
Fried Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 4 cups pecans
- oil for frying
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium pan, fill with oil about 2 inches deep. Heat over medium low.
- Blanche your pecans. Fill a large pot halfway full with water. Bring to a boil and add pecans. Boil pecans for one minute then drain in a strainer. Rinse pecans with hot water.
- Once pecans are rinsed, toss hot pecans in sugar to coat.
- Fry pecans in oil heated to 350 degrees for about 4 minutes. Remove from oil to drain on a rack above paper towels. (pecans will stick if placed directly on the paper towels.) Salt to taste.
Notes
And if you really want to take Fried Pecans to a new level, dip them in some chocolate. I just used chocolate bark.
Recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com
I can see all three varieties making the perfect gifts during the holidays this year.
Want more recipes using pecans?
Leslie says
Oh my word! I am thinking about doing something like this for a little nosh just before Thanksgiving dinner, while the family is hanging out. Sounds great!
Blessings,
Leslie
Simplee Sue says
Thank you for the recipe. I love nuts in any form and these I buy so this will be great to make myself. Thank you.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
https://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-mexican-pizza
Erin @ Wholly Delicious Dishes says
These look delicious. What a great snack idea!
Anita at Hungry Couple says
Here in the north we do suffer from a little DFP (deep fry phobia) but I wouldn’t mind vacationing in your house for a while, especially when you’re making these! 🙂
Joan Hayes says
haha Anita, I know many have that same problem, just come on down, you’re welcome any time!
Carla says
Sooo since you already fried and dipped them, you can just mail them to my house 😉 it’s not that I hate eating fried food. I just hate the process of deep frying. So if someone else did it for me, I’d be totally cool. Pinning!
Joan Hayes says
Carla, the hubby is dying to get one of those fry daddy things but we really don’t deep fry enough for me to want it. I usually try to deep fry when no one else is in the kitchen, it’s definitely one of those things you want to respect.
Glue and Glitter says
Holy moly, these looks so amazing!!
Susan 30A EATS says
Thanks for stopping by and making me giggle today! The pecans look perfectly delicious and just in time for the holidays! Fry is my middle name!
Joan Hayes says
Susan, glad I could share a smile with ya!
The Cooking Actress says
I’m so intrigued. I must know the wonderment that is fried candied pecans!
Joan Hayes says
You will get addicted to these so be careful!
Lizzy Do says
Fried candied pecans??? These must taste amazing!!! And dipping them in chocolate is pure genius!
Joan Hayes says
You know I had to dip them!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I am SOOOO making this for Christmas. I love any sort of candied nut, and FRIED? Girl – I love it!
Joan Hayes says
Dorothy, you should try adding them into your favorite recipes!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love pecans, what a treat!
Anonymous says
What does blanching do for the pecans? Never heard of doing it before. Thanks – can’t wait to try.
Joan Hayes says
Blanching in my opinion, keeps the nuts from drying out while frying. I’ve had them both way so it’s a personal choice.
Jen Laceda | Tartine and Apron Strings says
Never heard of fried pecan before! This is so interesting, Joan…!
Lemons and Anchovies says
I love candied pecans–never had them fried but that’s no problem at all. I wish I had that much pecans sitting in my freezer. Would make these in a heartbeat. 🙂
Joan Hayes says
We are very blessed to be able to gather from a friend’s trees. For those who will have to buy them, at least it’s a bumper crop this year so prices should be lower.
Kalamity Kelli says
YUM! I’m a little behind on my reading so I just got to read this – wow! It was worth thewait for sure. I love candied pecans but have never fried them—will be trying this year! 🙂
Joan Hayes says
Kelli, you’ll love them!
Didi Dalaba says
I’ve been so busy these past two weeks. Just saw this post, OMG!! That’s all I’m saying!!
Thank you so very much for the step by step instructions as well!!!
Mochino says
Oh my – definitely have to try this! I LOVE pecans! and then fry them . . . and candy them! How amazingly lovely!!
Printabelle says
What a blessing to have all those pecans! I can’t believe what yummy things you did with them, too! They look so delicious!!!!
Joan Hayes says
We are so fortunate to have access to “free” pecans, I put them in everything!
From Sugar Cookies to Peterbilts says
Those sound amazing! I absolutely adore how food is made in the south!
Joan Hayes says
Thanks, Nothing beats southern cookin!
Diana - FreeStyleMama says
WOW! How delish!