It is a dry fruit similar to nut known as 'American Pecan or 'Pecan Nut'. It is consumed raw and is use to make many desserts. Pecan is mainly consumed raw as an appetizer, although it may be a good ingredient to cook some recipes and especially desserts, such as tarts, cakes and ice cream. It is a nut that is known as Pecan for its resemblance to traditional nut, although more elongated and smooth bark, and because it comes from America. The bark or mesocarp is woody, but thin and easy to break when ripe, the endocarp meat is white and pleasant tasting, covered by a thin skin dark brown.

It is a very nutritious product because it contains many vitamins and is an important source of protein; with 100 grams are provided 9g. of proteins.

THE PLANT

The pecan tree is a deciduous tree that can reach 50m in height. It is used in gardening. The tree that produces pecan it is know as walnut, can reach up to 50m high, it is deciduous and is very beautiful so it is used in gardening. It belongs to the genus Carya Juglandaceas family. There are different species.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

The pecans are a dry and a healthy fruit and it has a high energy value that provides about 700kcal/100g. It is an excellent complement to diet of vegetarians due to the quality of its proteins.

VARIETIES