This week, I want to talk about prickly pears. Why? Cuz I feel like it.
(Photo: www.thriftyfoods.com)

Okay, snarkiness aside, the reason I chose prickly pears as my subject is because I recently had two items that contained prickly pears: a prickly pear margarita and prickly pear marmalade. The margarita had a soft melon-y kind of flavor, mellow and pleasant. The marmalade I found a tad too sweet for me, but it was probably the particular brand I bought. I’m on the look-out for other, more natural prickly pear marmalade. If anyone knows of a really good, tasty brand, please let me know.

I’ve had a prickly pear margarita before but the most recent one was just the other day at the Blue Bonnet restaurant in Denver. And I picked up the marmalade in Albuquerque. Notice the “Western” theme here. That’s because…

Prickly pears, also known as cactus pears, grow on the nopales (cactus paddles) of a variety of cacti and are widely used in Central and South America, and Southwestern U.S., where they are indigenous. They are also found in other parts of the world where cacti flourish and the climate is suitable, such as Malta, Egypt and parts of the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. (Photo: www.gatewaytosedona.com)

Prickly pears are particularly popular in Mexico, where they are part of the culture: The Mexican coat of arms shows an eagle perched on a cactus sprouting prickly pears. Says Wikipedia: “According to the official history of Mexico, the coat of arms is inspired by an Aztec legend regarding the founding of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs, then a nomadic tribe, were wandering throughout Mexico in search of a divine sign that would indicate the precise spot upon which they were to build their capital. Their god Huitzilopochtli had commanded them to find an eagle devouring a snake, perched atop a cactus that grew on a rock submerged in a lake. After two hundred years of wandering, they found the promised sign on a small island in the swampy Lake Texcoco. It was there they founded their new capital, Tenochtitlan. The cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica; Nahuatl: tenochtli), full of fruits, is the symbol for the island of Tenochtitlan.”

Other names for prickly/cactus pears are “Indian fig,” “Indian pear,” “barbary fig,” and “tuna” (I have no clue where that last one came from). And the prickly pear has medicinal uses, too. It has been used to treat various digestive and urinary maladies, relieve the symptoms of hangovers, and there’s even talk of using the plant to treat diabetes (the verdict is still out on that one). Natives of Mexico and the Southwest have traditionally used prickly pears to treat wounds and inflammation.

Now, prickly pears are available in places other than the ones I mentioned above (I see them here in New York when they are in season), but I find it sad that so many people outside of those regions are unfamiliar with prickly pears and/or are afraid to try them. Just because they come off a cactus does not mean they will hurt going down! On the contrary, the flesh of a ripe prickly pear (which is actually a berry) is sweet and soft, with hints of watermelon and kiwi. It is often a bright fuchsia color, but sometimes it’s a beautiful yellow-orange. It’s somewhat watery (not in a bad way), and it is a refreshing fruit to have in summer.

What I think really frightens people away from prickly pears is the seeds. The seeds are embedded throughout the flesh of the fruit. However, they are edible and it’s just a matter of getting used to swallowing them. You can use them in all sorts of recipes, and I’ve included a few below.

I hope the weather improves wherever you are and that you have a great week. Celebrate the start of summer with Bobby Flay’s Cactus Pear Margarita. Enjoy!

Cactus Pear Margarita

Courtesy of Bobby Flay at Foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:
Lime wedge
Coarse salt
8 ounces white tequila
4 ounces Cointreau
4 ounces cactus pear juice
2 ounces Roses lime juice
2 cups ice cubes

Directions:
Rub lime wedge around the rim of cocktail glasses and dip the rim into a saucer of coarse salt. Place tequila, Cointreau, cactus pear and lime juice and ice cubes in a blender and blend until frothy. Divide among glasses.

Cactus Pear Smoothie
Courtesy of Melissa’s.com

Ingredients:
14 ounces Organic Tofu (use Soft Tofu)
1 cup Orange Juice
2 cups Cactus Pears peeled and diced
1 cup Ice Cubes
Honey to taste

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender. Puree until smooth

Prickly Pear Salad Dressing
Courtesy of Melissa’s.com

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Cactus Pears (Prickly Pear) puréed

1/3 cup Salad Oil

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Sugar

3 tablespoons Wine Vinegar

Directions:

Shake all ingredients in a covered jar.

(Photo credit: Mexico coat of arms from Wikimedia Commons)