Prickly pear (Cactus Fruit)
The figue de Barbarie or prickly pear is an oval-shaped cactus fruit. It can range in colour from green (less sweet) to red (very sweet) and orange shades in between. All delicious raw or in juices and smoothies, red-skinned fruits contain the most ascorbic acid (815 μg/g fw) and the yellow-ones the most carotenoids (23.7 μg/g fw).
It’s thought that the antioxidant compounds in prickly pear help protect against inflammation that can damage the liver: Quercetin is the most abundant flavonoids in all prickly pear varieties. Eating prickly pear cactus may help to protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol consumption damage, part by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation. This fruit might reduce hangover symptoms.
In season July to October
The figue de Barbarie or prickly pear is an oval-shaped cactus fruit. It can range in colour from green (less sweet) to red (very sweet) and orange shades in between. All delicious raw or in juices and smoothies, red-skinned fruits contain the most ascorbic acid (815 μg/g fw) and the yellow-ones the most carotenoids (23.7 μg/g fw).
It’s thought that the antioxidant compounds in prickly pear help protect against inflammation that can damage the liver: Quercetin is the most abundant flavonoids in all prickly pear varieties. Eating prickly pear cactus may help to protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol consumption damage, part by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation. This fruit might reduce hangover symptoms.
In season July to October
The figue de Barbarie or prickly pear is an oval-shaped cactus fruit. It can range in colour from green (less sweet) to red (very sweet) and orange shades in between. All delicious raw or in juices and smoothies, red-skinned fruits contain the most ascorbic acid (815 μg/g fw) and the yellow-ones the most carotenoids (23.7 μg/g fw).
It’s thought that the antioxidant compounds in prickly pear help protect against inflammation that can damage the liver: Quercetin is the most abundant flavonoids in all prickly pear varieties. Eating prickly pear cactus may help to protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol consumption damage, part by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation. This fruit might reduce hangover symptoms.
In season July to October
COOKING TIPS
The thick prickly skin is full of liquid and protects the juicy flesh. Cut off each ends of the fruit, then use your fingers to pull the skin back off of the fruit. The prickly pear has small, hard seeds that you cannot bite through, but safe to swallow.
The skin is thin on the outside, but has a thick layer underneath that comes off too.
Cactus figs are best kept in the fridge.