Phoenix in the summertime: Sizzling and humid with night storms and an opportunity of a haboob (main mud storms for many who haven’t heard). One factor is for certain of Phoenix summers; it takes slightly motivation and creativeness to get out on a scorching scorching, humid day.
And due to 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 throughout the summer season months.
On a current blazing scorching day when these fortunate sufficient have been cloistered indoors within the cool AC-regulated temperatures, I acquired an e mail from chef/proprietor Chrysa Robertson of Rancho Pinot in Scottsdale, Ariz., founding father of the of the Phoenix chapter of Sluggish Meals USA. Her notice was an invite to her desert house to select prickly pear fruit. The plan: Choose the fruit, take it again to her restaurant to wash, course of and puree into juice, then be despatched house with jars of juice for our favourite use. This appeared like simply the form of exercise to assist my creativeness alongside.
Word: In Arizona, you must receive a allow from the Arizona State Land Division to reap fruit on state land. Examine the regulation in your space. A neater approach is to ask your neighbors for permission to select their fruit – city foraging! Don’t harvest all the fruit on a plant – depart some for the birds and animals.
Methods to Forage Prickly Pears for Our Margarita Recipe
If you happen to’ve been to Arizona (or the North American dessert, Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Center East and a handful of different locations), you’ve possible seen prickly pear cactus nearly in all places from freeway medians to open desert lands to neighborhood yards. If you happen to’ve stayed nearer to house, you’ve possible seen prickly pear cactus in lots of Western motion pictures or pictures of the desert.
These cactus have flat pads anyplace from 4 to 18 inches lengthy and huge spines. The fruit of many of the cactus varieties – referred to as tunas – is edible and is usually processed into jelly, juice and sweet. When the fruit is ripe in the summertime it turns a phenomenal scarlet coloration and grows to in regards to the dimension of a plum. The fruits are coated with tiny, virtually invisible spines referred to as glochids, seemingly unattainable 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 select the fruit. About 40 folks confirmed as much as cautiously and flippantly twist the tunas off their pads and gather in buckets. Subsequent cease was the restaurant the place the tunas have been put in massive bowls full of water, swished round to assist take away unfastened spines, then positioned into one other bowl of fresh water.
Now, carrying rubber gloves, we flippantly handed scrubbing pads over the fruit to take away any remaining glochids, then moved them to a colander to empty. Lower 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 have been saved for the compost pile. Prickly pear fruit could be ready in quite a lot of methods. Take into account these recipes utilizing prickly pear fruit.
After a scorching, academic and enjoyable morning, the restaurant’s pleasant and gifted employees ready lunch for the gang. What most of us have been anxiously awaiting? The bartender’s particular margaritas constructed from the prickly pear juice! Each lunch and the margaritas have been superb.
Prickly Pear Juice Advantages
Past its stunning hue and subtly candy style, prickly pear cactus (additionally referred to as nopal or opuntia) is a captivating 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 novel 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 Methodology
Place all elements in a pint glass full of ice. Shake for 30 seconds and pressure into salt-rimmed rocks glasses full of ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Based on Chef Chrysa, about 15 massive fruits ought to yield about 2, 2-1/2 cups of juice.
The juice could be added to lemonade or was 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
