Prickly Pear Margarita

The prickly pear is the fruit of a cactus, aptly named for its pear-like shape and the short needles embedded in its skin. Somewhat similar to watermelon, its sweet flavor pairs nicely with tequila, lime and triple sec to make a distinctively delicious variation on a Margarita.

About Prickly Pears:

The prickly pear is the fruit of a cactus, aptly named for its pear-like shape and the short needles embedded in its skin. It’s flavor is sweet, but somewhat bland and mildly reminiscent of watermelon, but with a softer texture.

There are a couple of color varieties available: green with pinkish-orange flesh and plum-red with vibrant magenta flesh.

You’ll find prickly pears in the market from early fall through winter, and into spring. Choose fruit that is firm but yields to gentle pressure. Ripe prickly pears can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 days.

To prepare, peel the fruit (you may want to use gloves) and remove the seeds or purée the flesh and strain through a sieve.

The flavor of prickly pears blends nicely with citrus fruit, particularly oranges and they can be a nice addition to fruit salads and sauces.