Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I was compelled to buy one of this at the grocery store - How does one eat? thanks in advance Green Blessings Patty Corapi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 If it is the red colored fruit....just peel and eat. Makes great jelly. Very sweet. Zo - <PACorapi Tuesday, December 12, 2006 9:40 PM Help - prickly pear catcus friut >I was compelled to buy one of this at the grocery store - How does one >eat? > > thanks in advance > > Green Blessings > Patty Corapi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 --- PACorapi wrote: > I was compelled to buy one of this at the grocery > store - How does one eat? http://austin.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ & sdn=austin & zu=http%3A%2F%\ 2Fwww.desertusa.com%2Fmagoct97%2Foct_pear.html Prickly Pear Sweets & Treats Prickly Pear Cactus have been a staple food of Native Americans for many centuries. Their large, colorful blossoms appear in yellow, pink, red or purple and grow from the tip of cactus nodules, which later ripen into delicious red fruit. Many varieties of prickly pear cactus grow wild throughout the deserts of the Southwest, but many are not native. Some species of prickly pear cactus were introduced into North America from tropical America a number of centuries ago. The fruit of these cultivated prickly pear cactus is a common delicacy in Mexico and is sold in markets as " tuna. " While all prickly pear cactus are of the genus Opuntia, the non-native Opuntia megacantha is one of the tastiest and most popular. Some native species, especially those with dark purple fruit, are not as flavorful. The flat-jointed paddles of the prickly pear are not leaves, but an adaptation of a stem from which the fruit grows. The cactus paddles, " Nopales, " are also a commonly used ingredient in Mexican recipes, including salads and scrambled eggs. (We will discuss the preparation of " Nopales " in a future article. If you have a Nopale recipe you would like to share, please e-mail it to lil). The prickly pear fruit normally ripens and is ready for harvest during the late summer and early fall months. When gathering the fruit, wear leather or rubber gloves to avoid contact with the cactus needles. They are a nuisance, especially the tiny soft-appearing barbs of glochids on the fruit itself. The glochids are very difficult to remove if you get them in your skin. A long-handled tong can also be used to pick the fruit from the cactus. Once you have harvested the fruit, you will need to remove the glochids by passing the fruit through an open flame or shaking the fruit in a bag of hot coals. The glochids can also be removed by cutting them away with a knife or peeling off the skin. Once the fruit is removed from the cactus, it will rapidly lose nutritional value and may ferment, so try to consume or process soon after harvesting. After you have removed the glochids you can eat the fruit fresh, or prepare it in several ways. Prickly pear juice can be used to make jelly, conserve, marmalade or poured on salads. It can also be mixed with other juices to make smoothies, shakes and other refreshing beverages. Mixing the juice with 7-Up or ginger ale will give you a tasty drink similar to a Shirley Temple. See Prickly Pear Drink Recipes. Prickly pear fruit can also be used in pies, dried for a snack food or used as a filler/topping for desserts. If you have a recipe you would like to share, e-mail it to lil, and we will post it with the recipes listed below. > > thanks in advance > > Green Blessings > Patty Corapi > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > The information contained in these e-mails is not a > substitute > for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified, licensed > professional. > > > Step By Step Instructions For Making Herbal Labna > Cheese! So easy, SO yummy! > http://www.aromaticsage.com/cz.htm > > > To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see > the following link: > /join > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Hi Patty and others: Is this from a regular prickly pear outside plant? I have the biggest cactus that I have to keep clipped back because it has gotten so huge. It has beautiful yellow flowers every spring. Which part is the fruit? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any information provided. Blessings and love, Effie I was compelled to buy one of this at the grocery store - How does one eat? Green Blessings Patty Corapi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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