North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>]

You generally sieve the pulp and leave the seeds behind.  The puree can be
used in a fruit salad (or part of the dressing), made into syrup or jam,
used in cocktails (e.g. margaritas), in smoothies, in popsicles, in juice
blends, in vinaigrettes, in sweet and sour sauce, mixed with soft drinks -
anywhere you might use a fruit puree.  You can use prickly pear syrup in
place of grenadine; different flavor, but it works.  
The upper paddles of Opuntia, called nopales, are also harvested, dethorned,
and used in cooking.  They can also be diced, boiled for 15 minutes in
salted water, and chilled for tender nopales, or nopalitos.  Nopalitos can
be used in salads or in place of fresh. But that's not a fruit, so I'm off
topic...but they can be used where you would use mild chiles or okra, which
are fruits, so maybe I'm back.
Opuntia can be very hardy; they like the desert because of the dry, not the
heat.  Some Opuntia grow north of the arctic circle.  They're commonly grown
in California as an ornamental - I don't know how many people harvest them.
I've read that it's illegal in CA to harvest them within 100 yards of a
roadway - which would be my entire yard.  I haven't been arrested yet.

~ Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of JAMES ELIE
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2008 8:27 PM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Opuntia humifusa

Hello Michael,

I am growing the "Ecos" variety from Oikos Tree Crops.  I don't believe I
will get fruit this year but getting some would be a nice surprise.  I kept
mine inside this past winter (thank goodness....it was a rather harsh
winter)  but plan to put out a few pads in a couple locations.  I believe
this variety is rated to minus 20 or minus 25.  

I have eaten store bought prickly pear fruit and although it was tasty the
seed content was a little overwhelming.  Any recommendations or recipes?

Thanks,

Jim Elie
Green Bay WI
Zone 4/5


> [Original Message]
> From: V. Michael Bove, Jr. <vmb@teakettlefarm.com>
> To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Date: 7/3/2008 1:50:31 PM
> Subject: [NAFEX] Opuntia humifusa
>
> The Opuntia humifusa I started from seed five or six years ago and  
> stuck in a gravely place on the edge of the woods is finally flowering  
> and has about 20 flowers on it. Is anyone else on the list growing  
> Eastern prickly pear, and if so...
> -- when does the fruit ripen for you?
> -- is it worth eating?
>
> Best,
> Michael Bove
> Teakettle Farm, zone 6 (MA/RI border)
>
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