Prickly pear fruit (opuntia)

limey · 10-12-2006, 08:45 AM

I got two of these in the box of organic fruit and veg that was delivered yesterday. I know you guys will have lots of tasty suggestions for preparing these. I haven't the foggiest idea - are they good raw? If so, should I peel them? What flavours do they go with? Help, please!

bluecuracao · 10-12-2006, 11:25 AM

Yes, peel them--but wear gloves when you handle them. Learned that the hard way when I was a kid!

I've heard they make tasty margaritas.

glatt · 10-12-2006, 11:29 AM

I've seen them in stores. Never knew anyone that bought one, except when I was a kid in Tucson, another kid brought one for lunch and ate it somehow.

Let us know what you do with them. I'd be curious if they are any good.

limey · 10-12-2006, 11:49 AM

The prickles have already been removed. What else goes in a prickly pear marguarita?

bluecuracao · 10-12-2006, 12:04 PM

I would guess, 2 parts tequila, 1 or 1/2 part triple sec, 1 peeled prickly pear, and a dash of Rose's lime juice in a blender, with a little ice.

barefoot serpent · 10-12-2006, 02:33 PM

The 'leaves' or pads of prickly pear are also edible. The flesh is cut into strips -- nopales -- and fried ala bell peppers for fajitas.

edit: and they make a beer out of them in South Africa (where the plant has become invasive).

10-12-2006, 03:09 PM

I like them in eggs.

limey · 10-12-2006, 04:43 PM

Having just peeled one of my pears (about 5 inches long) and taken the seeds outta the middle, there really wasn't all that much left. A small amount of, well, sub-cutaneous matter which prolly amounted to 2-3 tablespoonsful.
It tasted ok, quite nice actually, but it's up there with the pomegranate and the persimmon as being too pippy for its own good ...
But ... the leaves ... fried ... is that the leaves of the houseplant Opuntia that I have growing on my kitchen windowsill?

10-12-2006, 04:44 PM

The wild pears around here are much thicker and meatier than the crap you get in stores. They taste better, and more, too.

limey · 10-12-2006, 05:29 PM

Okay, I have one more five-inch pear. My instinct is to put this in the (steel, hand-operated) juicer thingie and use the result fluids in a fruit salad ... or a gin ... whadday'all think?

barefoot serpent · 10-13-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

Okay, I have one more five-inch pear. My instinct is to put this in the (steel, hand-operated) juicer thingie and use the result fluids in a fruit salad ... or a gin ... whadday'all think?

GIN!!! now just to decide: olives or cocktail onions...????

limey · 10-13-2006, 01:24 PM

I don't think either of those flavours will go with prickly pear juice. Perhaps I'll keep the juice for the fruit salad, and put some Tonic in the Gin ...

10-12-2006, 08:45 AM	#1
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Prickly pear fruit (opuntia) I got two of these in the box of organic fruit and veg that was delivered yesterday. I know you guys will have lots of tasty suggestions for preparing these. I haven't the foggiest idea - are they good raw? If so, should I peel them? What flavours do they go with? Help, please! __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

10-12-2006, 11:49 AM	#4
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	The prickles have already been removed. What else goes in a prickly pear marguarita? __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

10-12-2006, 02:33 PM	#6
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	The 'leaves' or pads of prickly pear are also edible. The flesh is cut into strips -- nopales -- and fried ala bell peppers for fajitas. edit: and they make a beer out of them in South Africa (where the plant has become invasive). __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading Last edited by barefoot serpent; 10-12-2006 at 02:37 PM.

10-12-2006, 04:43 PM	#8
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Having just peeled one of my pears (about 5 inches long) and taken the seeds outta the middle, there really wasn't all that much left. A small amount of, well, sub-cutaneous matter which prolly amounted to 2-3 tablespoonsful. It tasted ok, quite nice actually, but it's up there with the pomegranate and the persimmon as being too pippy for its own good ... But ... the leaves ... fried ... is that the leaves of the houseplant Opuntia that I have growing on my kitchen windowsill? __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

10-12-2006, 05:29 PM	#10
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Okay, I have one more five-inch pear. My instinct is to put this in the (steel, hand-operated) juicer thingie and use the result fluids in a fruit salad ... or a gin ... whadday'all think? __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

10-12-2006, 11:25 AM	#2
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Yes, peel them--but wear gloves when you handle them. Learned that the hard way when I was a kid! I've heard they make tasty margaritas.

10-12-2006, 11:29 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I've seen them in stores. Never knew anyone that bought one, except when I was a kid in Tucson, another kid brought one for lunch and ate it somehow. Let us know what you do with them. I'd be curious if they are any good.

10-12-2006, 12:04 PM	#5
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	I would guess, 2 parts tequila, 1 or 1/2 part triple sec, 1 peeled prickly pear, and a dash of Rose's lime juice in a blender, with a little ice.

10-12-2006, 03:09 PM	#7
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	I like them in eggs.

10-12-2006, 04:44 PM	#9
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	The wild pears around here are much thicker and meatier than the crap you get in stores. They taste better, and more, too.

10-13-2006, 01:24 PM	#12
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	I don't think either of those flavours will go with prickly pear juice. Perhaps I'll keep the juice for the fruit salad, and put some Tonic in the Gin ... __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)