Spiced Pecans

Name: Spiced Pecans
Yield: Makes about 4 cups
Ingredients: 1 tsp. fennel seeds; 1 tsp. ground coriander; 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper; 1 tsp. paprika; 5 garlic cloves, finely grated; 4 cups raw pecan halves; 1 Tbsp. grapeseed oil; 1 Tbsp. honey, preferably local; 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt; A spice mill or mortar and pestle

By Maricela Vega

January 12, 2021

Photograph by Jessica Pettway, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio

Pecans are a favorite Southern source of protein for Maricela Vega, the chef at Atlanta restaurant 8ARM and founder of Chicomecóatl, an organization centering the foodways of Indigenous Mexican diaspora. Growing up, she would eat them straight-up raw or lightly toasted, but this is her go-to preparation now: sweet, salty, and coated with freshly ground spices. Eat them by the fistful or sprinkle them liberally on salads or grilled veggies for deep flavor and crunch.

Recipe notes

Dark Chocolate Flax Bark

Crunchy, seedy flax crackers get topped with dark chocolate and a showering of sea salt for the ultimate sweet and salty snack.

Greenest Mint and Ginger Pesto

An electrifying pesto that stays bright green for days on end. With the addition of ginger, and jalapeño, it’s a versatile condiment to have on hand.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Sheet-Pan Pomegranate Chicken With Walnut Relish

This weeknight-friendly chicken dinner—made with pomegranate molasses and a toasted walnut relish—is inspired by the flavors of Persian fesenjan.

Double-Chocolate Flourless Brownies

Nutty and deeply chocolatey, these brownies just so happen to be gluten-free.

Chickpeas With 40 Garlic Cloves

Braising canned chickpeas in chicken stock and olive oil makes them unbelievably tender and buttery. This is worth the effort of peeling 40 cloves of garlic.

Pecan Cream Pie

Bake something unforgettable this Thanksgiving: Pecan cream pie layers a buttery nut-filled base with brown sugar custard, a flaky crust, and whipped cream.

Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos

Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.