If you are a regular reader of this blog you will be accustomed to my love of flavoured and roasted nuts. Perhaps you remember the Lemon and Garlic Almonds or the Honey Roasted Rosemary Cashews. Well, I’m continuing my series of roasted nuts with these Honey Roasted Thyme and Bacon Pecans.
So, why are roasted nuts so wonderful? They buy you time when hosting a dinner party! You can make them a couple of days prior and store in an airtight container ready for transferring to a serving dish the moment your guests arrive. Now, you could just serve them ordinary store bought roasted nuts but when you make them so moorish your guests are too busy polishing them off to realise you are only just starting to prepare their dinner.
While devising this recipe, I had in mind I wanted to create the sweet and salty effect that so pleases the palate when the balance of both is just right. I had already decided on pecans as the base nut as I love the rich buttery taste of pecan and I knew this flavour would pair beautifully with the bacon which I had already determined was making an appearance.
I’ve been pretty lucky when devising flavoured roasted nut recipes as I have consistently achieved wonderful results – fingers crossed this good luck continues. Even if you don’t have guests visiting, do yourself a favour and try making these nuts… I promise you they won’t last very long!
Honey Roasted Thyme & Bacon Pecans
1 tablespoon sea salt flakes, crushed
3 tablespoons good quality honey
1 tablespoon fruity olive oil
Preheat oven to 200° Celsius. Place the bacon rashers evenly spaced on a tray lined with baking paper and place in the oven until the bacon is crispy and golden (about 15 minutes).
Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. Cut cooked bacon into 2cmx1cm pieces and set aside.
Turn the oven down to 180°Celsius.
In a large bowl combine the pecans, bacon, thyme and salt. Pour the honey and olive oil over the pecans and then mix with your hands until the nuts and bacon are well covered.
Line a baking tray with baking paper and top with the coated pecans and bacon, making sure not to overlap the cashews too much.
Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool (the nutes will harden as they cool). Serve or store in an airtight container until you are ready to serve them.
They will keep for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container.
Oh yeah! These would go down so easily! I think I will make these for dinner with my partners family on Christmas Eve during pre dinner drinks!
These sound really, really good!!! Pecans are my favorite nut and I love what you have done here! Love the addition of the thyme!
oooh I am loving the bacon and honey flavour. I think it's going to be a winner in lots of people's books 🙂
Stupid question – what is a rasher? a piece? about to learn something new!
EverydayMaven, a rasher is one slice of bacon. Amanda, holy crap I love the sound of these nuts! Keep this up and I'll be crowning you Queen of Nuts!
that would be my perfect snack
I hope you do make them Anna! If so, let me know how they are received 🙂
The thyme makes it I think. The addition of herbs to roasted nuts is the key to making them moorish I think!
Anything with bacon and honey is going to be a winner!
John answered it below for you Alyssa. I always forget that 'rasher' is a british term 🙂
Well, I am a little nuts so maybe it is a fitting titie! Thanks for getting back to Alyssa too on 'rasher'.
Glad to hear it!
I do roasted (and usually spiced) nuts all the time, but I've never added bacon to the mix. Brilliant! I'll definitely have to give that a try. Thanks for the idea!
I would happily munch these all day long 🙂
Bacon and pecan! Great idea!
I gave You a "Liebster Blog Award", You can check it here. Merry Christmas!
http://multicultikitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/i…
Holy moly those look good enough to eat 🙂 hehe. Love the blog post, perfect Christmas nibbles too
I'm so in love with this blue-white pattern!
I'm not a bacon fan but OH BOY, those look amazing!! As ALWAYS, I am 100% impressed. I love your combination of garlic and lemon, sound divine. Happy almost new year to you!!!
You're right – these would be perfect for a dinner party! I'm sure guests would scoop this up in no time. Merry Christmas – I hope this season brought about many second servings 🙂
BACON and NUTS??? Zomg that is intense…… Intensely AWESOME that is!! You never fail to keep us excited with your recipes. Good stuff you! =)
yummy and crunchy….I loved the photography…so sharp and good! Happy new year to you!!
oooh these do sound fabulous
I just came by to drool! Love your recipes and photos!
Don't you find these a little tooo addictive? I always end up over eating nuts when they taste this good! Far too dangerous, at least until the wedding is over lol!
Adding Bacon takes it to another level John!
Its easy to do! Just make a big batch and you are on your way!
Thanks Emma! That is so kind of you.
Thanks. Its actually a tea towel I came across. 🙂
Thanks Teri! You could always leave out the bacon and it would still taste great. Happy New Year!! x
Thanks Adrian. I certainly ate a lot of great food at home in Western Australia with my family. Just returned yesterday. Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year.
Haha! I love your comments Winceee, they always make me smile 🙂 Thanks for your gorgeous comment.
Thanks Purabi. Hope you have had a great start to the year yourself!
Thanks Muppy. They were pretty hard to stop eating!
Hi gorgeous! Long time no speak. Thanks for popping by. Love to catch up soon, you around in the coming weeks?
I do Martine, but the trick is to only make them when you have guests over, then its a race to the finish line 🙂 Good luck with the last bit of planning for the wedding, it was so great to see you in Perth xx