Caloric content and chemical composition. Useful properties, harm and contraindications for use. How the fruits of prickly pear are eaten. Juicy berry recipes and interesting facts about them. Normalization of water and electrolyte balance is an important property of prickly pear fruits. Dehydration in hot climates is quickly fatal.
Useful properties of prickly pear fruits
The pulp of prickly pear fruits was widely used by traditional healers. It was introduced as an ingredient in home-made medicines and was advised to be consumed raw to boost immunity.
The benefits of fig prickly pear:
- Helps to get rid of inflammatory processes of the urinary system, providing a diuretic and antiseptic effect;
- Removes excess fluid from the body and removes edema;
- Eliminates spasms of blood vessels and bronchi, dilutes phlegm and accelerates expectoration in diseases of the respiratory system;
- Accelerates the elimination of toxins from the liver, prolongs the life of hepatocytes, liver cells;
- Prevents the development of vitamin deficiency and anemia, ancient seafarers took with them on a trip the fruits of prickly pear from scurvy;
- It has an astringent and hemostatic effect;
- Improves the function of the spleen, has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic system;
- Stops diarrhea and helps treat intestinal infections;
- Restores metabolic processes and normalizes the functioning of the nervous system;
- Increases potency in men and restores reproductive functions;
- Dissolves cholesterol, which is deposited on the walls of blood vessels, and prevents atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease;
- Eliminates painful symptoms of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.
One of the very useful properties of prickly pear cactus fruits is the elimination of cellulite. In women who use them regularly, the blood supply to the subcutaneous tissue is normalized and the fatty layer does not form.
External application of cactus juice accelerates the regeneration of the skin and helps to quickly recover from thermal damage and chemical burns.
Contraindications and harm to prickly pear fruits
Lack of sabra (tsabra) - thorns (glochidia), disguised as delicate fluff, which are very difficult to remove. If at least one is swallowed, erosions appear in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. First, there is pain, then an acute inflammatory process. It is impossible to remove the embedded glochidia without surgery.
Contraindications to the use of prickly pear fruits are: individual intolerance and abuse. Overeating can cause constipation, which can be difficult to get rid of. If you eat only juicy sweet berries, you can provoke intestinal stenosis due to a significant decrease in the rate of peristalsis.
Children under 3 years old and pregnant women unfamiliar with this type of product should refrain from introducing it into the daily menu, so as not to provoke undesirable consequences.
How to eat prickly pear cactus fruits
For the first time, the Aztecs became interested in delicious juicy berries. They used them raw and cooked. The product was appreciated for its taste and nutritional qualities.
In the description of a trip to "New Spain", dated 1560, it is indicated that the pulp is so nutritious that it is impossible to eat much.
Before eating the fruits of prickly pear, they need to be cleaned of thorns. To do this, wear thick leather gloves and make sure running water is available.
The surface of the berry must be carefully sanded or brushed with a soft metal dish brush. Then it is carried out with gloved fingers under running water to wash off the remnants of the thorns. After that, it is better to change thick gloves to thin ones, take the fruit in your hand and make a longitudinal incision on both sides. Only then can you take it with your bare hands.
The fruits, peeled from thorns, are eaten fresh, whole, despite the fact that they have a rather tough skin. Another option is to cut the berry in half, and select the juicy fragrant pulp with a spoon. They eat a cactus with or without seeds - as you like.
The taste of prickly pear fruits is sweet, they are somewhat similar to persimmon. Some varieties are more bland, sour, with a coniferous flavor. Thanks to this versatility, they are added to both sweet and savory dishes.
Types of prickly pears from which delicious fruits are harvested, differing only in size:
- Opuntia reversed from Argentina;
- Fig prickly pear from India;
- Mexican Shera;
- Sulfur-yellow from Western Argentina, its fruits contain more dietary fiber;
- Mighty prickly pear from Central Mexico with the largest juicy fruits;
- A golden succulent with small red berries from Mexico, familiar to many growers;
- Brittle frost-resistant prickly pear from the USA;
- The main one is found in California, as an agricultural crop is not grown.
- The most delicious fruits of the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica, Indian fig.
Recipes for dishes with prickly pear fruits
Cactus fruits are added to salads, boiled, baked, desserts are made. They are used as an aromatic additive in liqueur or various cocktails.
Recipes with prickly pear fruits:
- Jam … The berries are peeled and seeds selected. This is a rather laborious task, but if you leave them, it will be difficult to eat very tasty jam. Fruits without seeds are covered with sugar in a 1: 1 ratio and wait until the juice is released. Then the jam is brought to readiness over low heat until it thickens. Lemon juice, about 1/3 cup, and a little cinnamon must be added to the container with berries 5 minutes before turning off. Without additives, the dessert will be too cloying, and if the amount of sugar is reduced, it will “ferment” during storage.
- White wine jam … A large lemon is washed, dried, the ends are cut off from 2 sides, and then finely chopped together with the skin, first into thick rings, then cut into several pieces. Peeled seedless prickly pear berries are chopped into small pieces, with face sizes of 1, 5x1, 5 cm or 2x2. It is not necessary to be smaller, otherwise the form will not be saved. Chopped lemon is poured with 300 g of sugar and left for 1, 5-2 hours, until the juice appears. 650 g of sugar is mixed with a glass of white wine and boiled until smooth. You do not need to remove the foam. When the syrup melts, put lemon and sugar in it, mix everything and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Only after boiling, 950 g of sabra cubes are carefully placed in a container with syrup. Cook until thick, gently removing foam. If you decide to mix, you should do it carefully. Then the confiture with pieces of berries is laid out in the jars, and it should thicken exactly there. When it cools down, roll up the lids.
- Mexican salad … The calculation of the product is carried out for 2 portions. The ingredients are expensive, so every gram of the delicacy counts. First, cut into equal pieces of 30 g of peppers, sweet yellow and red, dense tomatoes, mix with 20 g of canned corn. Add 60 g of avocado pulp, several half rings of red onion, 6-7 black olives, cut in half, 70 g of fresh prickly pears, cut into cubes, to the slicing. Season with olive oil, sprinkle with freshly squeezed lime juice and season to taste with black pepper, salt and finely chopped cilantro. If you want a "real" Mexican flavor, add enough pepper to burn your tongue.
- Candied prickly pears … Dense fruits without a shell, 600 g, cut into identical circles, and then divide them in half. The thickness of the circles should be at least 6 cm. Syrup is boiled - 400 ml of water and 400 g of sugar, juice of 1 lemon. When the sugar is completely melted, the prickly pear is dipped in a saucepan and boiled for 3 minutes. Allow to cool and boil again. The process is repeated until the syrup thickens. Then the pieces of prickly pear are spread on parchment, sprinkled with powdered sugar and allowed to dry.
- Caramelized sabr … Cut the prickly pear fruits into equal pieces. In this case, the seeds do not need to be removed. They are easy to extract from candies during use. Heat sugar with a minimum amount of granulated sugar. The calculation is as follows: for 1 kg of berry pulp, 10 tablespoons of sugar. Cubes of fruit are immersed in liquid caramel, wait until they give juice, pour 50 ml of rum into a frying pan and add a little cinnamon. As soon as the caramel thickens again, remove the fruit and put it on a plate. Caramel can be served separately by wrapping it with a toothpick.
- Cocktail serving … Berries can be served as a snack for alcoholic beverages. Cut the fruit into even slices, prick each into a small fork, dip one side into melted chocolate. It is advisable to eat bitter drinks with sweet fruits.
- Prickly Pear Jam Recipe … Peel 1 kg of berries, put in a blender and chop. Strain out the seeds and fibers through a sieve, mix the juice with a glass of sugar with a slide, add half a bag of pectin and set to cook over low heat. 5 sticks of cloves and 1 vanilla, 1 chopped nutmeg are poured into a specially prepared bag of gauze and dipped in boiling syrup. Cook for 20 minutes. Before pouring the jam into the jars, put a few almonds in each.
- Sorbent … Juice is made of 6 prickly pear fruits, as already described in the previous recipe, and put into the refrigerator to cool. At this time, melt 50 g of sugar in a pan with the same amount of water. Beat 1 egg white with 3 drops of lemon juice, combine the ingredients and put back in the refrigerator. When everything has thickened, you can serve.
Fruit seeds are not thrown away. They can also be eaten, but not in desserts. The seeds are dried, ground into powder or flour for baking. Such an additive has almost no effect on the taste of the dish, but it saturates the body with useful substances.
Interesting facts about prickly pear fruits
At first, cacti were used as hedges to prevent livestock from being attacked by the inhabitants of the jungle. But in the future, they had to abandon the cultivation of prickly pears for this purpose. The animals liked the fleshy branches and sweet fruits with soft glochidia needles, but a massive loss of livestock began. The needles clung to the walls of the intestines, intestinal obstruction quickly arose. Fences began to form from other types of cacti, with hard thorns.
But this does not mean that they abandoned the cultivation of prickly pears. The fruits are widely used not only in the food industry, but also in the cosmetic industry. In addition, sabras are used as fodder raw materials for cochineal - insects, from whose bodies a very expensive natural dye carmine is obtained. It is used to decorate cosmetic products and to give the desired color to lipstick.
Locals distinguish the types of cacti not by their varieties, but by the color of the fruit: blanca, carmine, amarilla, marun, tunta. When the berry harvest is plentiful, folk festivals are held.
How to eat the fruits of prickly pears - watch the video:
If you dream of doing flowers, then the first experience can be obtained with prickly pears. This plant is not capricious and feels good in an ordinary apartment. The main thing is to choose frost-resistant species. After all, the heating is not always turned on on time.
