Also indexed as: Barbary Fig, Cactus Pear, Christian Fig,
Indian Fig
Preparation, uses, and tips
If you purchase fresh prickly pear that still contains stickers, you will need to carefully
remove the spines.
Using the pads
After carefully trimming the stickers away, the pad can be peeled and prepared for cooking
as you would cook a vegetable. Popular techniques include broiling or sautéing, or
chopping it raw and adding it to soups and salads. Once heated, the pads tend to become gooey,
acquiring a texture similar to that of okra. Avoid overcooking so they don’t become too
slimy.
Using the fruits
Generally, prickly pears are peeled by making a slit in the skin and peeling it away or
sectioned lengthwise, allowing for ease of removing the skin and seeds before serving the
fruit. It can be enjoyed chilled or served at room temperature. The fruit is a popular dessert
ingredient, so it is often served in salads, baked in breads and pastries, made into jellies,
jams, and candy, and pureed for use in beverages.
Buying and storing tips
When purchasing prickly pear, choose fruit that has a deep, even color and gives to slight
pressure. To ripen fruit, simply store at room temperature until soft. Once ripe, prickly pear
can be stored in the refrigerator for approximately one week. However, the pads should be used
as soon as possible, as they will begin to dehydrate and shrivel quickly due to their high
water content.
Varieties
The pads
The pads are, technically, the flattened stems that protrude from the plant at odd angles.
Clinging to each pad are small clusters of tiny stickers. These pads are frequently referred
to as nopales or nopalitos—a Spanish terms that refer to the pads once
they are cut up and prepared for eating.
The fruits
Cylindrical in shape, the fruits of the prickly pear are also known as
tunas—another Spanish term. The most common eaten varieties are the yellow, white,
and purple pears (the purple variety being the sweetest).
Nutrition Highlights
Prickly pear, 1 fruit (103g)
Calories: 42
Protein: 0.75g
Carbohydrate: 9.86g
Total fat: 0.53g
Fiber: 3.7g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (14.4mg)
*Good source of: Magnesium (88mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular
nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a
particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value.
Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries.
Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values
and the recommended daily guidelines.