How to eat red cactus pear?

Are you tired of the same old fruits in your diet? Looking for a new and exciting way to spice up your taste buds? Well, look no further than the red cactus pear! This prickly fruit is not only visually appealing but also packs a punch in terms of flavor and nutrients. However, many people are intimidated by its spiky exterior and do not know how to properly prepare it. In this guide, we will show you everything you need to know about eating a red cactus pear.

What is Red Cactus Pear?

Before we dive into how to eat it, let’s start with what this mystery fruit actually is. The red cactus pear, also known as Opuntia ficus-indica or prickly pear, is a type of cactus that produces edible fruit. It’s native to Mexico but has since spread throughout the world and can be found in various regions like Africa, Australia, and South America.

The fruit itself has vibrant shades of pink and purple skin with small thorns protruding from the surface. Once cut open, it reveals sweet flesh dotted with tiny seeds that are safe for consumption.

Health Benefits

Aside from being delicious, consuming red cactus pears also comes with numerous health benefits:

Rich in vitamin C: One serving contains 35% of your daily recommended intake.
High fiber content: Can aid digestion and promote regular bowel movements.
May lower cholesterol levels: Studies suggest that regular consumption can improve heart health.
Lowers blood sugar levels: Due to its high fiber content which slows down digestion rate.

Now that we have established why you should incorporate more red cactus pears into your diet let’s learn some ways on how best enjoy them!

Picking the Perfect Pear

When selecting your perfect prickly pear ensure:

1) Firmness – Look for fruits without soft spots or bruises, it should give a little to gentle pressure from your fingertips.

2) Color – The fruit’s skin coloration will vary but make sure the reds, purples and pinks are vivid in hue. If its color is turning brownish or yellowing that means they’re overripe.

3) Thorns – Check for abundant thorns some say more thorns equal sweeter taste! Do avoid ones with moldy patches on them.

Once you have procured your pear it’s time to give that bad boy(mostly used by cowboys LOL) a cleaning!

Cleaning the Pear

Cleaning the prickly fruit may seem like a daunting task as those tiny spines can be quite pesky, but fear not here is what you’ll need within an arm’s reach:

Thick gloves
Tongs or pliers
A sharp knife
Cutting board
Small bowl of cool water

Step-by-step guide:

Put thick gloves on both hands so you won’t get poked while handling.
Using tongs or pliers hold the pear at one end then using your knife slice off either end {top and bottom}.
Slice down one side lengthwise then repeat again until all sides have been sliced.
Attempt taking out two triangles-shaped sections of peel along then place them aside (if they easily come apart).
5.Remove remaining peels making rounds cuts around each base till there aren’t any stickers left.
6.Rinse under running water ensure all little stickers have been removed.

Congratulations now that we’ve cleaned our Pearl we finally move onto different ways of enjoying this ‘Berry’

Ways to Eat Red Cactus Pears

The fruit has an array of eating styles since its versatile enough to eat raw as well making beverages and sweets containing it ok enough already let us explore 4 delicious styles!

Raw

Want something simple and easy? Eat the cactus pear raw, cut into slices, sprinkle some lemon juice,and take a bite! For those that don’t enjoy seeds in their fruit its fluffy white pulp inside can be freed from all entrapment to your added pleasure. This would make for an excellent alternative fruit on your cheeseboard!

Jam

If you happen to have more than one of these exotic fruits why not try making jam out of them!? It’s a tasty option especially when they are thoroughly ripened; it’s less sticky hence good texture taste is assured.

Ingredients needed

16 ounces of ripe prickly pears(450g)
Juice squeezed out of half a lemon or lime
A little water – just enough to cover bottom surface

Method

Rinse cleaned crown/pears off.
Cut them up into small pieces removing any remains of peel attached.
3.Blend till you reach preferred consistency use water if required BUT NO ADDED SUGAR NEEDED!
Since pears sweeten naturally.juice extracted mixed and brought to boil then`.

Boil until it slightly thickens then remove from heat allow cooling before placing mixture in jars,bottles or air tight containers as per preference.

Cocktails

Are you feeling experimental tonight? Red Cactus Pears go well with countless cocktails due to the fruity flavor they produce which complements various liquors somewhat perfectly no bitterness whatsoever. So why not fix yourself a ultra-refreshing cocktail such as ‘Pricky Margarita’ today?

#### Ingredients:

60ml tequila

30 ml freshly squeezed lime juice(about two limes)

30ml Freshly squeezed Prickly pear(Bright red colour).

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients over ice.

Sweet Treats

Maybe desserts are more your vibe? Incorporate these prickly yet sweet pears while baking would please your sugar cravings.Here’s an ice cream flavored with Red Cactus Pear!

Ingredients needed:

5 large egg yolks
2.150 gr granulated sugar
3.1/4 tsp salt
4.16 oz whole milk( 230 ml), 13 oz heavy cream(440 ml)
5.Two ripe red cactus pear fruits

Directions:

Whisk together egg yolks in a separate bowl after put aside.
Place pureed pear flesh, sugar and salt in a pan then heat until bubbles rise up incorporating it into the yolk mixture slowly whilst stirring constantly.
Pour back mixture into pot on medium-low heat until custard thickens enough to coat spoon (check for consistency).
Strain if necessary before mixing both dairy products.
Cool down by immersing over some ice or filling bigger bowl with cold water, allow time to chill.

Those little details achieved now try presenting that homemade ice cream accurately sprinkling bits of crushed almonds perfect!

Conclusion

In conclusion,don’t be shy from trying new things! Be adventurous! Serving them raw jamming making cocktails/sweets are great options when it comes to this juicy berry fruit so we have given you everything you need… except maybe why all cowboy movies always had people running through cacti lol.Some things will never be explained.

On that note take off cape,masks whatever keeps us going day by day and just sake some made-up margaritas using our newly found recipe guide or bake an angel heart-shaped cake adding pricky pixels wherever applicable!!

Enjoy every experience life throws at us like cutting open those same magical thorns..sometimes it’s easier than expected💪