The prickly pear cactus is a “tasty” prickly cactus. Under optimal conditions it grows up to five meters tall and provides humanity with edible fruits. Our country is not his favorite home, but if you want to try the aromatic fruit called prickly pear, you will find it.
What does a prickly pear taste like?
A ripe prickly pear has asweet-sour pulpThe hard seeds of the fruit are edible, the peel is inedible. The tastereminiscent of figs, but also has aromatic notes of pear and melon. The gelatinous, grainy pulp is found refreshing in summer.
What does a ripe prickly pear look like?
It is important to recognize ripe prickly pears as unripe specimens are not enjoyable. In addition, fruits that are harvested unripe no longer ripen. A ripe prickly pear has these characteristics:
- oval shape
- approx. 5 to 10 cm length
- 100 to 200 grams weight
- reddish shell color
- soft, gives slightly under pressure
- Spikes have already fallen off
- only spikes can be seen
Are prickly pears he althy?
Prickly pears are very he althy. You can safely consume them in large quantities because they have just 41 calories per 100 grams. The fruits have these he althy ingredients to offer:
- Magnesium
- calcium
- Vitamins B, C and E
- Fiber
- Slimes
The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) originally comes from Mexico. There, among the indigenous peoples, its flowers and fruits are even considered healing.
How do I eat a prickly pear correctly?
To fully enjoy the aromatic taste, eat the prickly pear pure. Before doing this, peel off the thick peel as it is not edible. You can alsohalve the fruit and scoop it out, similar to a kiwi. You can also use the fruits of the prickly pear cactus for mixedfruit saladsor process them intojuiceorjam.
Can I also harvest prickly pears in Germany?
Even with the best care, ripe prickly pears canonly rarelybe harvested in Germany. The living conditions are not optimal for this. Sometimes they are so unfavorable that the prickly pear cactus doesn't even bloom, shrivels unsightly or hangs. Additionally, two plants must be present for fertilization to occur. When a few fruits make it to full ripeness, they areless aromatic than in the country of origin. The fruits sold in this country come from Italy, Spain or South America.
When and how are prickly pears harvested?
The prickly pear cactus first bears fruit three or four years after planting. The harvest time is inlate summer or autumn. The fruits are best separated from the plant with asharp knife
How long do fresh prickly pears last?
Prickly pears only last fora few days. They should berefrigerateduntil consumed.
Tip
Be careful of the spines
Cactus fruits sold in supermarkets have been brushed off after harvest. But you can't always rely on them being thorn-free. Protect yourself from painful stings by wearing gloves when peeling.
