If you've ever wondered how to eat a prickly pear, you're certainly not alone. These pretty cactus fruits might look intimidating, but they're surprisingly easy to peel, cut and juice once you know how. Their sweet, refreshing flavor makes them perfect for drinks, vinaigrettes, sauces and desserts. I'll show you exactly how to prepare them safely.
Jump to:
- What is a Prickly Pear (Cactus Pear)?
- What does Prickly Pear taste like?
- Are they good for you?
- When are Prickly Pears in Season?
- Where to Buy Prickly Pears
- How to Pick the Best Prickly Pears
- How to Cut Prickly Pears (Cactus Pears)
- Are prickly pear seeds edible?
- How to Make Fresh Prickly Pear Juice
- How to Use Prickly Pear Juice
- How to Store Prickly Pears
- Other Names for Prickly Pears
- More Tropical Fruit How-To's
- Sliced and Juiced Prickly Pear
What is a Prickly Pear (Cactus Pear)?
If you've ever driven through a desert, you've likely seen many Prickly Pear Cactus Plants along the way. Did you have any idea those reddish fruits growing out of the pad-like plants were edible? The pads are edible, too. They're called Nopales.
- There are several varieties of cactus pears. Within all of the varieties, the colors vary from magenta and red to green and yellow.
- Prickly Pears are native primarily to the southwestern United States, Mexico, other Latin American countries, as well as in Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean — where there is a lot of sun and heat.
- Prickly Pears are not actually a member of the pear family. They were given this name only because the they resemble pears in shape and size.
What does Prickly Pear taste like?
The flavor is very sweet, refreshing, and can be compared to a blend of watermelon and raspberry.
Are they good for you?
Prickly pears are a nutritious fruit, containing antioxidants, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and fiber (mostly in the seeds).
When are Prickly Pears in Season?
Peak season varies depending on where they're grown, but you'll usually find the best selection from late summer through fall.
Where to Buy Prickly Pears
During their season, you might find them in the specialty section of the produce department in your market, and almost always at stores like North Gate and Vallarta. You can also get them here.
How to Pick the Best Prickly Pears
- Look for prickly pears that give slightly to gentle pressure, much like a ripe avocado.
- Avoid fruit that's overly soft, bruised, or shriveled. While the color can vary, it should be fairly even.
- The fruit should have smooth, firm skin.
- Like most produce, it should feel heavy for its size.
* IMPORTANT * Prickly pears have very tiny, nearly invisible spines called glochids. Be sure to wear cooking gloves whenever you handle them - even if you think they've already been cleaned. If you're going to harvest them yourself, use both gloves and tongs. Trust me! These hard-to-see spines can be painful and difficult to remove, and wearing gloves makes the whole process easy and worry-free. (I'd suggest wearing long sleeves, too.)
How to Cut Prickly Pears (Cactus Pears)
- First, put on the cooking gloves!
- On a clean, dry cutting board, use a paring knife to cut about ½ inch off of each end.
- Make a slit with the knife, vertically, through the skin - about ¼ inch deep. Use the tip of the knife to lift the skin away from the slit.
(Be sure you're using a very sharp knife!)
- Gently pull the skin off the cactus pear. It should come off in one piece and may remove a bit of the inner flesh — that’s okay.
- You can cut the fruit into slices any way you like.
Are prickly pear seeds edible?
Yes, the cactus fruit is packed with very tiny edible seeds. Many people like the seeds and it’s common to add the slices with the seeds to salads, or eat them on their own.
Personally, I don’t love the mouthfeel of the seeds as I find them grainy. This is why I prefer to juice the the fruit.
How to Make Fresh Prickly Pear Juice
- It's so easy! Add chunks of the fruit to a blender and purée.
- Then pour the pulp through a strainer to remove the seeds.
How to Use Prickly Pear Juice
Below are some delicious ideas:
- mix it into your favorite lemonade recipe
- use it in cocktails (and mocktails) like margaritas
- add it to smoothies with bananas and pineapple
- make sorbet, ice cream, or popsicles with it
- use the juice in dessert sauces or syrups
- turn it into jam, preserves, and jelly
- add it to sparkling water with a touch of sugar
- add floral notes to your iced tea with it
- use it to make a delicious cactus pear vinaigrette for salad
How to Store Prickly Pears
- Whole prickly pears can be stored at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Fresh prickly pear juice should be refrigerated and used within a few days, or you can store the juice in the freezer in an airtight container for about three months.
Other Names for Prickly Pears
- Cactus Pears
- Cactus Figs
- Tuna Fruit
- Indian Figs
More Tropical Fruit How-To's
Enjoy!
Sliced and Juiced Prickly Pear
Ingredients
- 1 pound prickly pears (cactus pears) - about 5 pears
Instructions
- Put on cooking gloves! If you don't, you will have tiny, almost invisible, sharp spines stuck in your fingers and hands.
- Use paring knife to cut about ½ inch off of each end of the fruit. Then, make a slit with the knife, vertically, through the skin — ¼ inch deep (or less). Now use the tip of the knife to lift the skin away from the slit a bit.
- Use your hands to gently pull the skin off. It usually will come off in one piece and may remove a bit of the inner flesh — that’s okay. Once the skin is removed, you can cut the fruit into slices.
- If you don't want the fruit with the (edible) seeds, purée it in a blender and then strain out the seeds to use the juice.
NOTES
NUTRITION
donnie
I have eaten hundreds of these and better to buy. Not worth the tiny spikes that will get in everywhere. Also, no need to cut the top. Just slice all around vertically as explained and pry apart and you have the entire fruit...I prefer the young green ones, will be more firm and better tasting...
valentina
Thanks so much for the tips, Donne! 🙂
Al
Couldn't you burn the spines off on the stove, or with a lighter? I remember seeing a rancher using a blowtorch to burn off the spines so his cattle could eat the whole plant.
valentina
Oh, I will look into that! Interesting! 🙂
mike w
A couple years ago, here in central Texas, I set out on a mission to collect enough 'tuna' to make jelly. I used tongs to pry them from the plant. Standard metal kitchen tongs, with their tips coated in , I'm guessing, silicone. Part-way into the first 5-gallon buckets' worth, I happened to look at those tips . . . thoroughly embedded with these otherwise soft-looking 'hairs', The tuna are surprisingly sweet, no sugar needed, but beware those little bitty buggers.
valentina
Yes! I learned my lesson! Delicious, though. 🙂
David
WE love to eat and cook with prickly pear fruit. You show too kinds here - the ones shown on the plant are pretty much used only for juicing, although they can be eaten at great peril! The ones you used (from the focus indica) are often served for dessert and make a lovely treat! We are lucky to have both growing in our garden!
David
P.S. - those little invisible thorns are called glochids and they ARE really annoying and painful! Washing the fruit several times in cold water can help remove some of them, but your advice to wear gloves is very important and should be heeded!
valentina
Thanks for the additional tip! I'll never make that mistake again. :-/
valentina
Thanks for this info. Love it. And you are indeed so lucky to have them right outside your door!
Linda
And they make fabulous jelly!
valentina
I hadn't thought of that. Excellent idea! How pretty would that be!?
Sylvia
With the seeds or without the seeds? I’d love the recipe or just some instructions.
Blanca
TUNAS!! These were a regular household item growing up. We were not allowed to touch them. We would have to wait until my mom peeled and cut them. Then we would eat them with lemon, salt and powdered chile. THE BEST. It would have never occurred to me to juice them lol I feel like my mind expanded just a little. Thank you for the wonderful trip down memory lane.
valentina
Thank YOU, Blanca. I love good food memories! And adding a bit of powdered chile to them sounds soooo good. I'll try that.
Greg
I just foraged about a dozen of these from the hills by my house. Eating one for breakfast right now. GREG
valentina
I love it, Greg!