Pecan pie is a sweet custard pie. It is prepared mainly from corn syrup and pecan nuts. It is a hugely popular dessert prepared and served during important US holidays like Thanks giving, Christmas. It has a sweet and a very nutty flavor with a custard like texture. It originated in the southern part of the USA, but since the early 20th century its popularity has grown immensely and has become the Pan American dessert.

What makes the pecan pie a truly American dessert? well answer is not too far, the term pecan devived and originated from the American Indian word ‘Pecan’ which means “nut to be cracked with rock”. Some early French settlers in New Orleans got introduced to pecan nuts by the native Indians, it made their creative juices flow and pecan pie was the delicious outcome.

Small communities of Quinipissa and Tangipahoa Indians lived at that time in present day New Orleans. The first French settler to this place was sieur de La Salle,who came here in 1682.His visit was soon followed up by another French explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne in 1699. Another prominent French settler sieur de Bienville,who was governor of Louisiana, visited New Orleans and liked it so much that he created a settlement in 1718. He christened this fresh settlement Nouvelle Orleans.

Thus the foundation was laid for this delicious dish to be whipped up in a French settlers kitchen for the very first time. And who knew at that time this marriage of European Pie with the native American ingredient would bring about such a revolution to American palettes in the 20th century.

Pecans have a long long history in the region. millions of pecan plants are found on the banks of major Rivers, streams and irrigation canals in Texas and north of Mexico. Even fossil remains of pecan plants were also found there. So based on this evidence we can conclude that these pecan trees existed long before native Indians moved here and that these plants were waiting for their fruits to be discovered by some body who could creatively use them and prepare some thing wonderfully delicious which is befitting to their unique taste and flavor. After all this unique taste was acquired by them after standing patiently for many a thousand years.

Not only that these pecan plants played a significant role in giving a Pan American character to the people coming from diverse countries ,regions ,ethnicities and religion. In the modern times first recipe of pecan pie appeared some where between 1925 and 1940.Some famous cook books are dead sure of first recipe being published in year 1940. Today pecan pie has caught the imagination of the entire American nation. It has been endorsed by all the communities who came to live here from all the parts of the world. Now many variations have appeared in pecan pie like chocolate pecan pie, chocolate chip pecan pie, sweet potato pecan pie. But nothing could beat the traditional New Orleans pecan pie.

Author Bio: Pecan Pie: Read about this marriage of European Pie with the native American ingredient, only at http://www.tannerspecan.com/