Did you know cactus fruit are sweet and flavorful? Have you ever tried them? We lived in Arizona for a very long time. We had Prickly pear and Saguaro growing in the garden. Every year we watched the local animals and birds fight over the fruit. It was hard to get some for us before the birds got to them. After we moved to Texas all we see are the small 5 inch tall cactus growing in little pots. I remember the first time I saw the little cacti at the nursery and almost cried. Imagine my surprise when I saw prickly pear fruit in the local 99 ranch market. I had to get it and make this sauce/dip.
The process is really the same as with any other fruit sauce or dip. You heat the fruit with a little sugar and strain. The aroma takes getting used to but the flavor is awesome.
You will need
3 ripe prickly pear fruit (pinkish in color, not green)
1 tbsp. sugar (or as needed, increase or decrease as per taste)
Peel the rough skin off the fruit and dice into cubes. Boil 3/4 cup of water in pan. Add the fruit and the sugar. Lower the heat and let it simmer until the fruit is cooked and can be mashed. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
Using a fine wire strainer, strain the sauce to remove the seeds and hard pulp. Discard the seeds and pulp. The sauce/dip is ready. Serve with fresh cut fruit like apples.
Enjoy with some fresh fruit!
The process is really the same as with any other fruit sauce or dip. You heat the fruit with a little sugar and strain. The aroma takes getting used to but the flavor is awesome.
You will need
3 ripe prickly pear fruit (pinkish in color, not green)
1 tbsp. sugar (or as needed, increase or decrease as per taste)
Peel the rough skin off the fruit and dice into cubes. Boil 3/4 cup of water in pan. Add the fruit and the sugar. Lower the heat and let it simmer until the fruit is cooked and can be mashed. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
Using a fine wire strainer, strain the sauce to remove the seeds and hard pulp. Discard the seeds and pulp. The sauce/dip is ready. Serve with fresh cut fruit like apples.
Enjoy with some fresh fruit!
I would have loved to see how that fruit looks Varada. Never knew or read about cactus fruit being consumed..sounds so interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe get prickly pears in the local stores but never ventured into getting those home. But by what you describe, I am tempted to get atleast one to try.
ReplyDeletea healthy snack. good, kids can eat easily.
ReplyDeleteWow, thats a brilliant idea to make dip with prickly pear fruit.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a versatile dip varada. I bet this can be used for salad dressing too. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThe sauce looks so colorful and inviting. I too made a similar recipe using regular pears.
ReplyDeleteThat’s an interesting dip Varada we do get prickly pears here! I was too skeptical to try that fruit! Will try to get some next time I see !
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting choice of fruit for making the sauce/dip. I will give it a try sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteI love prickly pear. It is so hard to get here although in Caribbean markets I can usually get it but so hard to find ripe this time of year. what a great dip!
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious.
ReplyDelete