8,189 x 4,715 pixels Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS II USM 1/640 sec, f/6.3, ISO 320

Image by David Lennard

Prickly pear (also called nopales) cacti are native to the Western Hemisphere. Several are cultivated, especially the Indian fig (O. ficus-indica), which is an important food for many peoples in tropical and subtropical countries.

Prickly pear fruit emerge from cactus nopales in the hottest, driest months of the year. They are small and oval in shape, with the largest fruits reaching 5” in length (Davidson, 634). Color ranges from yellowish-green to a deep-red or purple. Most fruits ripen to a deep-red color in late summer. These reddish fruits are generally regarded as the best for eating.

Like many nopales, prickly pear fruit (also called figs or tunas) are covered with needle-like spines. American Indians removed these spines by rubbing the fruit in the sand (Davidson, 635). This was made easier in the early mornings when the cacti were covered with dew. Today, spines are commonly removed by scrubbing each fruit with a vegetable brush under running water.