Prickly pear

Prickly pear is called cacti, which are distinguished by the presence of flat, juicy, segmented branches. As strange as it sounds, this prickly beauty is quite widely eaten. Due to the property of prickly pear, it does not pose a danger to humans, that is, it does not contain poisonous substances, almost all of its parts (fruits, stems and juice) are considered edible.

A favorite treat of Hispanics is the fruits and stems of prickly pear. For example, in Mexico, this is the most important "vegetable, " and purified and ready-to-eat cactus shoots can be purchased not only in mini-markets, but also in modern hypermarkets.

In order to bring a sufficiently prickly prickly pear fruit into an edible form, it is necessary to make an effort to remove the needles that cover its skin. To taste, the flesh of the prickly pear fruit is quite sweet and has a refreshing effect - it somehow resembles a juicy strawberry or a mature pear, however, much watery. Only small seeds that are inside the fruit can spoil the overall impression.

Juicy prickly pear fruits are usually consumed mainly fresh, as well as used in the preparation of confectionery. In addition, you can cook sauce, jam, jam, compote, jelly and marmalade from prickly pear flesh. The composition of ice cream, sweets, yogurts, sherbets and other dairy products often adds juice and fruit pulp, which are also used in creams and fruit salads. They are often baked or stewed with meat.

Juice obtained from prickly pear fruits is often used in the manufacture of various alcoholic beverages - for aroma and color, it is added to wine. Bajtra, a prickly pear-based liqueur, is hugely popular among tourists. Spaniards mix prickly pear juice with lime or lemon - you get soft summer drinks. And from the fermented juice, an alcoholic drink is made Co-link.

The edible part of the prickly pear is also the shoots of the plant. The main condition is that the stems of the cactus, which are intended for cooking, should be distinguished by freshness and softness. That is why it is worth using only young prickly pear shoots - they are characterized by a certain taste and are actively used in culinary affairs: for the preparation of various salads and hot dishes.

Types of prickly pear

In general, today there are at least two hundred species of prickly pear. Among them, one of the most famous and common is Indian or fig prickly pear, the generally accepted name of which sounds like a tzabr.

In addition, other popular species of prickly pear include small-haired prickly pear (Opuntia microdasys), dark-winged prickly pear (Opuntia phaeacantha), red-rye prickly pear (Opuntia rufida), dressed prickly pear (Opuntia vestita), and many others.