Pecan nuts in Hindi: what they are, how they differ from akhrot, and how to eat them

That walnut resemblance is why some people describe pecans as a kind of akhrot. It is a fair shortcut for explaining the look, but in the shop and in the kitchen they are two different nuts, and they are priced, stored and used a little differently.

Pecans grow inside a thin, smooth, brown shell that cracks far more easily than a walnut shell. In India they are almost always sold already shelled, as two long halves, because the whole nut travels a long way and the shelled kernel is what bakers and snackers actually want. A good pecan half is plump, glossy, evenly brown and snaps cleanly; a pale, shrivelled or dusty-looking one is old.

What are pecan nuts called in Hindi?

In Hindi, pecan nuts are called pecan (पेकन) or pecan nut; there is no older Hindi word for them. The same is true in most Indian languages: people use the English name, because pecans reached Indian kitchens as an imported nut, mostly through baking.

The tree is Carya illinoinensis, a kind of hickory, grown mainly in the United States and Mexico. You may also see the name spelt “peacan” on Indian labels, including ours. It is the same nut. If you are looking up other names, our list of dry fruit names in English and Hindi covers the everyday ones.

Pecan vs walnut: what is the difference?

A pecan is sweeter, softer and less bitter than a walnut, while a walnut has more protein and much more plant omega-3. Both are in the walnut family (Juglandaceae), and both kernels come in two wrinkled halves. The approximate figures below are per 100 g of kernel, from standard food composition tables.

In short: choose walnut kernels for everyday eating and for the nutrition walnuts are known for, and pecans when you want a sweeter nut that people who find akhrot bitter will actually enjoy.

How do you eat pecan nuts?

You eat pecan nuts just as they are, raw from the pack, or lightly toasted, which brings out their buttery taste. Pecans sold shelled, like ours, are ready to eat with no soaking needed. A small handful, about 25–30 g, is a normal serving.

• Raw: straight from the pack, on their own or with dates.
• Toasted: a few minutes in a dry pan on low heat, stirring, until they smell nutty.
• In breakfast: chopped over oats, muesli or yoghurt.
• With sweets: as a topping on kheer or halwa instead of walnut.
• In salads: toasted and broken over greens with fruit.
• In a mix: with almonds, cashews and dried berries for a snack jar.

Some people soak pecans overnight out of habit, as with badam. It is not necessary; it simply softens them. Whole nuts are a choking risk for children under five, so chop or grind them for small children, and check with a doctor if anyone in the family has a nut allergy.

How are pecans used in baking?

Pecans are used in baking whole, chopped or ground, and they are the nut in the classic American pecan pie. Their sweetness and soft bite suit cakes, brownies, cookies and banana bread, where walnuts can taste slightly bitter.

1. Toast first. Spread the halves on a tray and bake at about 160–170°C for 6–8 minutes, until fragrant. Watch them, as they burn quickly.
2. Cool before chopping. Warm pecans turn oily and crumble when cut.
3. Toss in flour. A spoon of flour over chopped pecans stops them sinking to the bottom of a cake.
4. Keep some halves whole. Press them on top of brownies or a cake before baking, for looks.
5. Swap freely. In most home recipes pecans and walnuts can replace each other cup for cup.

How should you store pecan nuts?

Store pecans in an airtight container in the fridge, where they keep well for several months, or in the freezer for longer. Pecans are one of the fattiest nuts, and that fat turns rancid at room temperature, especially in Indian summers. A rancid pecan tastes sharp and paint-like, and it cannot be rescued.

• Keep only a week’s supply in the kitchen jar.
• Seal the rest tightly, so it does not pick up fridge smells.
• Let cold nuts come to room temperature in the closed jar, so moisture does not form on them.

Our Pecan Nuts (Peacan) come in a 100 g pack, which is a sensible size for a nut that should be eaten fresh. They sit with Hazel Nuts and Brazil nuts on our Imported Nuts shelf. See today’s price on the product page.

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