Do you have any cacti outside of your home? Working with a professional landscaping company can help you maintain the cacti in your yard. You can enjoy the fruits of this labor by harvesting the prickly pears that grow and using them in your kitchen. Keep reading for tips on using and enjoying prickly pears:
Collecting Prickly Pears
If you regularly examine your landscaping, then you’ve probably noticed that prickly pears start out being green and eventually turn orange or red when they are fully ripe. Prickly pears contain small spots that feature splinters known as glochids. This is why you should always wear gloves when harvesting your fruits. Grasp the fruit and gently twist it to remove it from the cactus pad, then place it in a bowl.
Preparing Prickly Pears
Once you’ve collected all the fruit that you want, it’s time to prepare it for use in recipes. Use tongs, a fork, or another tool to carefully hold each fruit over an open flame to burn way all the glochids. Next, cut a 1/4-inch piece off each end and cut down the length of the fruit so you can fully remove the skin. You can use your fingers to peel off the skin and leave only the fruit behind.
Enjoying Prickly Pears
There are many ways to enjoy prickly pears in both foods and beverages. You can use the fruit to create juices, smoothies, and simple syrups. You can also use prickly pears to create jam or jelly or add them to other fruits to create a tasty fruit salad. Prickly pear offers many health benefits because it is high in fiber and antioxidants, so don’t be afraid to try it in new recipes.
If you want to have more prickly pears to use in your kitchen, contact Complete Landscaping. Our Tucson, AZ landscapers can help you select and maintain the perfect plants for your yard. Call us at (520) 323-8919 to learn more.