Can I eat these? If so how do I cook them?

1. 93

   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   Can I eat these? If so how do I cook them?
   
   I have a ton of cacti like the ones in the picture in my yard. I would love to put them to use and eating them would be a good option if they are edible. So what can I do with them?
   
   

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2. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Here's a great link to answer your question peeples:
   
   http://www.ehow.com/how_8287950_eat-cactus.html

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3. 77

   Rod Raineyposted 11 years ago

   I was a batcher at a barbecue sauce factory for a while and we made a tequila/cactus salsa, so it can be eaten. Not sure what type we used or how it was prepared, but it came in cans.

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4. 93

   Blond Logicposted 11 years ago

   Yes, you can eat those. In fact when I was young my father used to buy us cactus candy.
   I have a recipe in my Mexican cookbook. My book says choose tender young leaflets which don't have spines. If they do scrape them off with a knife. They require light cooking only.
   2tsp veg oil
   4 oz cooked diced green chile
   1 Tbsp chopped onion
   1 large fresh tomato chopped
   salt to taste
   1/8 tsp pepper
   1/8 grlic powder
   3/4 cup diced, cooked Nopales.
   Heat oil and sauté green chile and onion. Add chopped tomato and season. Cover to simmer a few minutes then blend in nopales. Cook for a few minutes . Serves 4

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   1. 66

      CharronsChatterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      what's the taste like, Blondie?

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   2. 93

      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have them growing about 100 yards from my pots and pans but haven't tried them. I just keep opening my cookbook and looking at the recipe and thinking I should make it. I was hoping you would get back to me and let me know. LOL

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   3. 95

      DrMark1961posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      In Arabic we call them "kermoos nasrani" or Christian figs. They are eaten raw and taste sort of like figs, but you have to clean them carefully first, of course. I have not had them cooked, and BlondLogics recipe sounds like a good way to use them..

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   4. 93

      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Just an additional note. Here in Brazil, these plants grow wild in parts and when there is very little for the cattle to eat, the farmers will feed their cattle these (obviously removing the spines first).

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5. 56

   SAM ELDERposted 11 years ago

   
   
   I'm not sure if you can eat this one. But if you are interested there is a cactus called prickly pear that can be consumed. We have a lot of them on Island Crete in Greece. It is sweet and juicy.

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6. 91

   Georgie Loweryposted 11 years ago

   I lived in Texas for a while and a lot of folks eat these. I was told that some cut the pointy things off, slice them up and cook them like green beans. Never tried them myself, though.

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7. 66

   CharronsChatterposted 11 years ago

   um...very carefully?  oh ell oh ell. Seriously, they look juicy delicious...

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8. 71

   lemmyCposted 11 years ago

   Where else will you find this pool of information?. Glad to be part of this great people who love ideas. I have learnt a lot from these discussions. I also found some information from this link here:
   
   http://www.herbalsafety.utep.edu/herbs-pdfs/nopal.pdf
   
   Hope it helps.

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9. 93

   ThelmaCposted 11 years ago

   Before eating them, I would take a sample to your local Home Extension Agent (what we call them here) and ask for their advice.  They will know for sure and then you won't have the risk of eating something that could be harmful.  Better safe than sorry!

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   1. 61

      Lisa HWposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'd agree.  My motto is, "Don't eat anything you didn't get in the Produce aisle."        Also, though, my mother's motto used to be:  "You don't know where the dogs have been."   

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10. 57

    theodoresumrallposted 11 years ago

    I'm not sure of all the types. However, there are certain types of cactus that can be consumed, be their flowers or fruits. The one you have uploaded  here seems like Prickly Pear Cactus, its fruits are edible. Do not have knowledge of health benefits!

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11. 65

    lupineposted 11 years ago

    Yes this type of cactus is edible, it is called Nopal. The fruit is edible, sweet, doesn't need to be cooked, must be peeled entirely. Do not handle with bare hands.
    
    The green leaf-like part, needs to be cooked. Be very careful when handling of course, since the thorns are very sharp, use several paper towels, or tongs when cutting off the plant and removing the thorns with a sharp knife, do not peel the whole thing. You may want to cut the tips of the thorns with scissors first, even while still on the plant. If you can do this outside in the yard its better than doing this in your kitchen. Newspaper can be put on the table, easily thrown away. After thorns are removed, rinse and slice across the length in strips, then again in the other direction. The pieces should be the size of cut green beans. Cooked by boiling in a pot of water, add 3-5 cloves of garlic, cook until tender, add a little salt to taste. Drain water, notice it's kind of thick/slimey. That's they way they are, can slightly rinse/drain again if desired. They are now ready to use. Note: these are not usually eaten alone, but are combined in Mexican dishes. Example: Add to cooked pork chops: Brown/cook pork chops in a skillet with oil, add chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, small can of tomatoe sauce, 1/2 to 1 cup of water, add cooked "nopales", let simmer for about 15 minutes. Delicious! Have with tortillas. Another way is to add  to scrambled eggs, add while cooking the eggs. Use in a cold Nopal salad...combine in a bowl with chopped tomatoes. onion, cilantro, salt, pepper and enjoy with tortilla chips. If this seems like a lot...they do sell them in a jar at the grocery store, but not as good as home-made. Hope this helps.

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    1. 57

       theodoresumrallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Interestingly, Nopal is widely available in Nepal, (Country) almost everywhere.

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