Prickly Pear Vinaigrette Recipe

This Prickly Pear Vinaigrette is full of bright, lemony, raspberry-watermelon-like flavors with a subtle sweetness. Prickly pear recipes are wonderfully unique, and this dressing is an easy way to enjoy the fruit while elevating any salad.

New to prickly pears? Before making this recipe, you'll need fresh prickly pear juice. If you've never prepared the fruit before, my How to Eat and Juice a Prickly Pear photographic guide takes you through safely peeling and juicing them step by step.

This stunning fruit has a subtly sweet, raspberry-watermelon-like flavor that's delightful in both sweet and savory recipes.

This vinaigrette is a simple introduction, transforming the fruit into a bright, flavorful dressing that can take your salad to the next level.

Ingredient Notes

Above: prickly pears, salt/pepper/sugar, prickly pear juice, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon

• prickly pear juice (cactus pear juice) - The vibrant, sweet-tart base of this vinaigrette is prickly pear juice. You can very easily make your own juice using my How to Eat and Juice a Prickly Pear guide or use store-bought prickly pear nectar (not sponsored). Just be sure it's 100% prickly pear juice or nectar. It's not something you'll find in most grocery stores.
• red wine vinegar - The vinegar adds acidity and balances the sweetness of the fruit. Substitutions: You can substitute with apple cider vinegar or sherry vinegar. You can also use a combination of equal parts white wine vinegar and red wine.
• lemon juice - The lemon juice brightens all of the flavors in the recipe.
• kosher salt - If you use table salt, use half the amount.
• black pepper - Preferably freshly ground.
• granulated sugar - We only use a little - it will enhance the natural sugars in the prickly pear and mellow the tartness.
• extra virgin olive oil - Use one you love the flavor of!

How to Make Prickly Pear Vinaigrette

- To prepare prickly pear juice, place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or glass measuring cup. Peel and quarter the prickly pears, then add them to a blender and purée until smooth. Pour the purée into the strainer and press with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible (the tiny seeds will remain in the strainer). You’ll need ⅔ cup of juice for this vinaigrette. For step-by-step instructions and tips for safely preparing the fruit, see my comprehensive How to Eat and Juice a Prickly Pear guide.

- Add the lemon juice, vinegar, salt, pepper and sugar to the juice and mix. Then gradually whisk in the oil. Alternatively (and easier!), add all of the ingredients to a jar, screw the lid on tightly and shake.

Variations

• Other citrus juices. Instead of lemon, use lime or orange.
• Other fruits. If you really want to change things up, you can use strawberries or raspberries instead of the prickly pear, or a combination.

Uses for Prickly Pear Vinaigrette

• Of course, Prickly Pear Dressing is fabulous in almost any salad. Its sweet, tangy flavor is so good with all sorts of greens, tomatoes, red onion, artichoke hearts, you name it. I use it with my Papaya Bowl Salad (above), and it's always a hit.
• It's also a fabulous marinade or a sauce for fish and chicken. Try it with this Cilantro Shrimp!
• I love drizzling it over slices of mango and avocado. It can turn an already pretty plate into a real work of art.

And if you want to make something sweet with your prickly pear juice, you'll want to make and keep this prickly pear syrup on hand.

How long will it keep?

The vinaigrette can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about two weeks.

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I hope you love this recipe as much as I do!