![]() ![]() Cactus Pear Nutritional BenefitsĪccording to the “Nopal Recipe Book” prepared by the Ministry of Rural Development and Equity for Communities, the nopal is a cactus that contains 95% water and is low in calories, provides approximately 27 kcal per 100 grams and has properties antioxidants, due to their content of beta carotene, polyphenols and vitamin C. In addition, it provides calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, vitamins C, A, iron and calcium.īut how do you eat the cactus leaves without turning your tongue into a pin cushion? No problem: the spines can be easily scraped off with a sharp knife. It is important that the dark areas from which the spines sprout are completely removed. Tip: use gloves. Rinse the leaves with water and then cook as you like. Its satiating fiber and gelatin-like pectin captures and removes cholesterol from the blood while slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates, helping prevent blood sugar spikes and diabetes. Rich in phytonutrients, they help reduce cholesterol and sugar level. The Opuntia cactus – the nopal – is a staple in Latin America that is mainly served with eggs and salads due to its health benefits. Other succulent plants can also be edible, such as the blue agave (with which tequila is made) or the maguey with which pulque or mezcal is made. Of the rest of cacti, only the fruits are usually consumed, as in the case of saguaro and dragon fruit or pitaya. Its scientific name is “echinocactus” (from the Latin ecchinus, sea urchin, for its resemblance to it). In Mexico they also consume the barrel cactus, a globose cactus with a round and thick shape. Not all cacti are edible, so you do not have to stick your fork in the small cactus that you have next to the computer, or cut the cactus on the windowsill into pieces. Only the young, green shoots of the prickly pear should be eaten. The plants were considered a natural medicine, should help with weight loss and protect against diabetes-it was only a matter of time before the prickly fruit, along with chia seeds and goji berries, became part of the series of superfoods queues. Cooking with the prickly plant has long been a trend in America. It is used in smoothies as well as breaded as a vegetable schnitzel alternative.Īs more people discover its great qualities, cactus foods and drinks make their appearance in grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers markets around the world. Surprisingly, this prickly food is one of the healthiest foods that can be included in our daily diet, as it is rich in vitamins and nutrients and provides many additional benefits. ![]() Prickly pear cacti are part of Mexican cuisine like mole or tacos – whether in a salad, in a stew or as an alternative to grilled meat. The edible cactus leaves, called nopales in Spanish, are a simple side dish there and are eaten there just as naturally as the potato in America. In fact, the prickly pear has been a very important source of nutrition for the peoples of Mesoamerica for more than 12,000 years. What kind of cactus can you eat? Of course, it is something that has been known from the oldest civilizations. After a while the soil can be moistened regularly but never kept constantly saturated.In the recent years we have experienced a boom in plant-based diets and of course the cactus could not be missed out. Place them in a spot where they'll receive sun and do not water until the soil becomes fairly dry. Most species grow best in a fairly roomy, well-drained container filled with a porous compost that doesn't contain too much humus. Many of these plants can survive hot sun and frost. They require a minimum temperature of 40§ F. The majority of Ferocactus species flower in summer and are pollinated by bees.įruits become fleshy and often juicy when mature, but are not usually considered edible. ![]() They bear no spines and only a few scales. When young, they are usually globular shaped, though they eventually become columnar with age.īarrel Cactus flowers always grow at the top of the plant. In some species, one or more central spines are curved like a fishhook, accounting for the common name Fishhook Barrel Cactus. They are grown for their brightly coloured, often hooked, and somewhat dramatic spines. They are excellent for growing in containers on patios and in greenhouses or as landscape plants. They grow to at least 30 cm tall at maturity, but usually reach a height of 1 metre or even 3 metres. These are slow-growing plants, reaching ages of 100 years or more. They are always cylindrical or barrel shaped and are usually among the largest cacti of the North American deserts. Ferocactus, meaning "fierce or wild cactus". Most barrel cacti are of the genus Ferocactus.
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