Prickly pear fruit, also known as cactus fruit or the fruit of the Opuntia cactus, is a unique and vibrant fruit that grows on various species of cactus plants. It has been used in Mexican – and Central American – cuisines for several thousand years. Although the fruit can be found in the Southwest United States, it’s largely unfamiliar to American cuisine. That’s too bad for those of you who have never tried the fruit, because it’s incredibly versatile and delicious. You can sauté the prickly pear fruit like a vegetable, use it raw in salads, or make juices and syrups out of it for use in drinks and desserts.
What does prickly pear fruit taste like that makes it so versatile, you ask? Great question.
It has a bright flavor profile with hints of under ripe strawberry, melon, and bubblegum. It’s sweetness is subtle, which allows it to be used in appetizers, salads, desserts, and drinks alike. The flavor is similar no matter the color of the fruit, which can be red, orange, green, or some combination of the three colors.
The prickly pear fruit is aptly named after the plant it grows on, Prickly Pear Cactus. Synonymous with desert environments, cacti are extremely durable plants with many applicable uses in everyday life. Many Native American cultures treated prickly pears as a cure-all due to its many health benefits. Some of those benefits include but aren’t limited to: healing power for wounds, high in Vitamin C and calcium, high amount of antioxidants, and high amount of dietary fibers.
Prickly Pear Fruit Juice
1
servings5
minutes15
minutes20
minutesPrickly Pear Fruit has a versatile and subtle flavor that makes for a refreshing juice, either on its own or with tequila for an easy cocktail
Ingredients
1 pound prickly pear fruit (red or green)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
1 whole lime, juiced
2 tablespoons sugar
(optional) Tequila blanco
Directions
- Slice both ends off the prickly pear fruit. Then slice vertically into the skin and, using your fingers, peel off from around the fruit. The skin is pretty thick and separates easily from the fruit. Once you’ve made an incision vertically, it’s easy to peel off using your fingers.
- Add the sliced prickly pear fruit, water, orange juice, lime juice, and sugar to a blender. Blend on a low speed for 1-2 minutes until thoroughly combined.
- Strain the juice through a colander to remove the seeds.
- Serve over ice or store in an airtight container for several days. This freezes well and can be stored much longer frozen.
Add 2 ounces of Tequila blanco for an easy and refreshing cocktail. I shook mine using frozen mango chunks instead of ice, and it turned out delicious.
