Cactus Pears: Exotic Fruit

 My fave show right now is Chopped. Last night I saw an episode where one of the ingredients were Cactus Pears.. aka Prickly Pears. I wish the contestants would have done soething more creative with them--they just sliced them and served them as is, but what about a puree...a sorbetto....a drink?

I have an intimate relationship with these guys. My Nani was from Sicily, where cactus pears are an abundant and common fruit. We used to get them (from somewhere-- I guess you can find anything in New York) when I was growing up occassionally, and it was always a treat. Nani would carefully peel them just so, to expose the beautiful, albeit seedy, pulpy fuscia-colored fruit. We kids would reverently watch and then she would dole out the slices. I always remember eating it ice cold, and it was very sweet and juicy with a refreshing watery taste reminicent of watermelon. The numerous seeds are just consumed along with the fruit.

They grow here in California and the Southwest, the fruit of the, yeah, Prickly Pear cactus. Since they are common in Latin-American cuisine as well, they are easy to find. I found mine 7 for 99 cents at my favorite latino grocery, King Ranch (more about that here). They also come in the green variety, and they are good too. But I'm a sucker for any weirdly colored fruit, and that amazing bright pink color gets me every time!

I made a fruit salad, and here's what I did. You have to be careful peeling this fruit--most of the time when you get them in a grocery store, the prickly spines are already taken out. But just to be on the safe side, wear gloves when handling them. Trust me, one little wayward cactus spine in your hand will have you going nuts for a few days. They burrow into your skin and its hard to get the lil suckers out.

I take a sharp knife and cut iff both ends.

Then I slice about 1/4 inch into the skin right along the cuts from end to end.

Then the skin is easily peels off, leaving just the fruity inside.

Slice into medalions, or process whole, as you wish, depending on your recipe.

Here's 2 recipes:

Prickly Pear Fruit Salad with Lime and Chili:

4-5 Prickly Pears, peeled and sliced
1 medium pineapple, in chuncks
1/2 small watermelon, cubed
1 medium cucumber, sliced
2 mangoes, chunked or sliced
jicama, sliced into matchsticks (optional)
juice of 2 limes
red chili powder ( I like ancho or pasilla)
sea salt

Arrange the fruit on a platter or in a pretty bowl. Chill well. Just before serving, sprinkle with the lime juice, then the chili powder and a little sea salt. Serve with chili and salt on the side of your guests want to add more... this can be served in lieu of a salad. Its delicious and refreshing.

Prickly Pear Lemonade

3-4 lemons, juiced

3-4 prickly pears, peeled

2 quarts cold water

sweetner to taste (about 1 cup sugar, or 7-8 Splendas

Ice

Mint, for garnish

Press the prickly pears through a strainer or sieve to extract the juice and remove the seeds, set aside. Add the lemon juice and the sweetner in a large pitcher. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the prickly pear juice and the water, and stir. Add ice to fill pitcher. Serve with a sprig of fresh mint and more ice. YUM!

Make it a Great Day!

Ann
See you at these parties: Make It Yours , Whatever Goes Wednesday, Frugalicious Friday

Latin Grocery and a Recipe

Due to the boom in latino/hispanic population in this country, there's bound to be a Latin grocery in your town.  Maybe you have never been there. If this is the case, I say: Go Now! It's like taking a vacation without leaving town (that is, if you are crazy like me, who loves to check out grocery stores when on vacation!) Here in my neck of the woods, we have plenty to choose from, from small markets to huge grocery stores that cater to latinos...some that come to mind are: King Ranch, SuperA, Superior, and La Super.

The produce is usually amazingly fresh, and has all the "regular" stuff, like lettuce, tomatoes, corn, et al...but ahhh...there are some great ingredients you must try. Here are some:

 Red bananas or mini bananas: sweet, small, very fun for kids! and the mini ones are so adorable, they come in a "bunch" just like Curious George books!

Mexican Onion (cebollita): like a scallion, but bigger and more flavorful..use these anywhere you'd use a scallion or onion, they are also great rubbed with olive oil, slat and pepper and thrown on the grill!

Yuca: This beastly looking thing is a waxy tuber that is cooked similar to a potato. My mother in law, who is from El Salvador, uses them in soups and they are delicious. Also great deep fried!!

Tomatillo: This odd looking thing looks like there's a paper lantern on it! It is actually related to a tomato, and has a bright fresh flavor. They can be fried, grilled, and are mostly used in salsa...my recipe for Tomatillo Salsa follows....

Their spice sections are usually amazing..you can buy most by weight. I saw fresh nutmeg, every kind of dried chili, you name it.

Panaderia, Tortilleria... basically these grocery stores have an in-house butcher, bakery and usually make their own fresh tortillas IN HOUSE.... when I go there I get my fresh tortillas and they are still warm The chips are also to die for, and are made fresh daily. Buy the store brand...they will be a bit darker in color...that will tell you they are freshly made. There will also be fresh cheeses (Try queso fresco, a mild, delicious cheese with a crumbly texture) by the pound, fresh crema (like sour cream) and fresh salsas.

They also have very European/Gourmet items. Yesterday I saw Quince Paste, fresh in the deli area, all kinds of pastries, and freshly made bolillos (which is a little like a tiny baguette)

Last night we had friends over and had 2 homemade salsas(one is below), fresh corn tortillas from the market, carne asada tacos (freshly bbq'd marinated flank steak, sliced thinly) and for dessert, caramel flan I purchased at King Ranch which was to die for!

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa

This is so darn easy and everyone will keep repeating: "You MADE this?" 

It really is good: and different. Try it.

about 1/2 lb fresh tomatillos, outer papery skin peeled and cut into quarters

2-3 cebollitas, or 4-5 scallions, roots removed (use green and white part)

1 small clove garlic, peeled

2-3 key limes, or 1 juicy regular lime--juiced

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 small jalapeno (optional)

1 tsp granulated sugar

salt to taste

Place all ingredients into a food processor. Pulse until uniformly blended and forms a saucy consistency but thick. Serve immediately with chips, tacos, anything you use salsa for. Delicioso! This will keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.

Linking to a special SNS#28 "recipe" feature!!