Phoenix in the summertime: Sizzling and humid with night storms and an opportunity of a haboob (main mud storms for individuals who haven’t heard). One factor is for certain of Phoenix summers; it takes slightly motivation and creativeness to get out on a scorching sizzling, humid day.
And because of a neighborhood chef and restaurant proprietor for offering the motivation, I now know that the fruit from prickly pear cactus turns into ripe and able to make into particular treats through the summer season months.
On a latest blazing sizzling day when these fortunate sufficient had been cloistered indoors within the cool AC-regulated temperatures, I obtained an e-mail from chef/proprietor Chrysa Robertson of Rancho Pinot in Scottsdale, Ariz., founding father of the of the Phoenix chapter of Gradual Meals USA. Her observe was an invite to her desert residence to choose prickly pear fruit. The plan: Choose the fruit, take it again to her restaurant to scrub, course of and puree into juice, then be despatched residence with jars of juice for our favourite use. This seemed like simply the sort of exercise to assist my creativeness alongside.
Observe: In Arizona, it’s important to acquire a allow from the Arizona State Land Division to reap fruit on state land. Examine the regulation in your space. A neater method is to ask your neighbors for permission to choose their fruit – city foraging! Don’t harvest the entire fruit on a plant – go away some for the birds and animals.
Forage Prickly Pears for Our Margarita Recipe
In case you’ve been to Arizona (or the North American dessert, Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Center East and a handful of different locations), you’ve seemingly seen prickly pear cactus nearly all over the place from freeway medians to open desert lands to neighborhood yards. In case you’ve stayed nearer to residence, you’ve seemingly seen prickly pear cactus in lots of Western films or images of the desert.
These cactus have flat pads wherever from 4 to 18 inches lengthy and enormous spines. The fruit of many of the cactus varieties – known as tunas – is edible and is usually processed into jelly, juice and sweet. When the fruit is ripe in the summertime it turns a gorgeous scarlet shade and grows to in regards to the measurement of a plum. The fruits are lined with tiny, nearly invisible spines known as glochids, seemingly inconceivable to take away out of your pores and skin as soon as they get you.
The Nitty Gritty of This Prickly Pear Drink
Chef Chrysa instructed us to convey lengthy tongs to choose the fruit. About 40 folks confirmed as much as cautiously and calmly twist the tunas off their pads and acquire in buckets. Subsequent cease was the restaurant the place the tunas had been put in massive bowls crammed with water, swished round to assist take away unfastened spines, then positioned into one other bowl of unpolluted water.
Now, carrying rubber gloves, we calmly handed scrubbing pads over the fruit to take away any remaining glochids, then moved them to a colander to empty. Reduce in half, we blended the fruit blended till it liquefied, then positioned in a strainer and pressed till the liquid was strained out.
For the ultimate step the puree was put into one other, even finer mesh strainer for extra juice to be collected. The leftover pulp and seeds had been saved for the compost pile. Prickly pear fruit may be ready in quite a lot of methods. Think about these recipes utilizing prickly pear fruit.
After a sizzling, instructional and enjoyable morning, the restaurant’s pleasant and gifted employees ready lunch for the group. What most of us had been anxiously awaiting? The bartender’s particular margaritas produced from the prickly pear juice! Each lunch and the margaritas had been wonderful.
Prickly Pear Juice Advantages
Past its lovely hue and subtly candy style, prickly pear cactus (additionally known as nopal or opuntia) is an interesting ingredient with a wealthy historical past in Latin American delicacies.
It’s naturally excessive in fiber and boasts a good dose of antioxidants (as most vibrantly hued/purple/blue meals do)1 So, whilst you’re having fun with this scrumptious Prickly Pear Margarita, you’re additionally indulging in a singular and doubtlessly helpful ingredient!
Travis’ Prickly Pear Margaritas Recipe
Components
1-1/2 ounce tequila
- 1 ounce prickly pear syrup (combine equal elements prickly pear juice with easy syrup: 2 elements sugar to 1 half water, stir till dissolved)
- 1 ounce recent lime juice
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Coarse salt to rim the glass
Prickly Pear Drink Recipe Technique
Place all elements in a pint glass crammed with ice. Shake for 30 seconds and pressure into salt-rimmed rocks glasses crammed with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
In keeping with Chef Chrysa, about 15 massive fruits ought to yield about 2, 2-1/2 cups of juice.
The juice may be added to lemonade or changed into a syrup for pancakes or ice cream. It may be added to your favourite barbecue sauce, marinade or French dressing recipe or made right into a tasty jelly, too!
Sources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/prickly-pear-cactus/faq-20057771
