Have you ever tried a prickly pear?
On a recent trip to the farmer’s market, I spotted a box filled with prickly pears (aka cactus pears) being sold 3 for $1.00. The curiosity was far too strong for me NOT to spend one dollar on them for a little kitchen experimentation.
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Especially if I could create a tasty beverage perfect for a summer barbeque party…which is what we’re having with the gang of Sunday Supper today!
Anyway, as soon as I got the prickly pears home, I started researching different recipes I could create with them…and how to prepare them. The method is pretty simple: slice the top and bottom off of the prickly pear to start. Then, you cut a slit lengthwise through the rind and peel it off. You’ll be left with the “pear” portion. There are small, hard seeds in the fruit that are technically edible, but for the purpose of creating a cocktail, you want to remove them. Slice the cactus pear into pieces and place in a blender/food processor. Pulse the processor until fruit is a liquid consistency.
Next, you place a mesh strainer over the top of a container/bowl. Pour the pulsed prickly pear liquid into the strainer and allow liquid to strain through, leaving behind seeds and pulp. Discard the seeds/pulp, and keep liquid for recipe use! I found that each prickly pear yielded about one ounce of juice, which is enough to make two margaritas.
I’m definitely a fan of the flavor of prickly pears – they have a really fresh taste to them…I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but the freshness reminds me of cucumber when mixed into a margarita like this one. Perfect and refreshing for summer, don’t you think?
Have you tried a prickly pear before? What did you think if so?
Prickly Pear Margaritas
- 3 ounces tequila blanco
- ½ ounce triple sec
- 1½ ounces lime juice
- 1 ounce prickly pear juice
- 1 ounce cranberry juice (approximately)
- Lime wedges, for garnish
- Combine tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and prickly pear juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
- Pour margarita mixture into two glasses filled with ice. Add a splash of cranberry juice on top of each. Garnish with a lime wedge. Enjoy!
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Don’t forget to check out the other awesome recipes from the group at Sunday Supper today!
Hot Off the Grill:
- Best Grilled Pork Chops by Hezzi-D’s Books & Cooks
- Bleu Cheese Burgers by Juanita’s Cocina
- Korean Grilled Flank Steak by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Swedish Blonde Burgers by Eat, Move, Shine
- Hawaiian Hot Dogs by La Cocina De Leslie
- BBQing the Whole Hog, Cuban Style by Webicurean
- Meat Stuffed Jalapenos by The Urban Mrs
- St. Louis Ribs by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Fish Kebabs with Mint Chutney by Soni’s Food
- Jalapeno Bacon Burgers by Cookin’ Mimi
- Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Bacon Burgers by In the Kitchen with KP
- Curried Pork Sliders with Peanut Sauce & Apple Slaw by Foxes Love Lemons
- Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Breasts by Sustainable Dad
- Ditch Dogs by Daily Dish Recipes
- Bison Kabobs by Noshing With The Nolands
On the Side:
- Spicy Baked Beans by The Messy Baker
- Wisconsin Roasted Corn by Curious Cuisiniere
- German Potato Salad by The Foodie Army Wife
- Grilled Baby Potatoes With Peppers And Onions by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
- Sausage Potato Salad by girlichef
- Lightened Up Fully Loaded Baked Potato Salad by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Homemade Mustards by A Stack of Dishes
- Spicy Grilled Corn Salad by Magnolia Days
- Layered California Pasta Salad by The Weekend Gourmet
- Grilled Potato Salad by In Fine Balance
- Spicy Bacon and Corn Salad by Hip Foodie Mom
- Three Corns with Japanese Accents by Ninja Baking
- Cucumber Bruschetta by Healthy. Delicious.
- Grilled Zucchini by Supper for a Steal
- Chicken Spinach & Pasta Salad by Family Foodie
Sweet Tooth:
- Red, White & Blue Parfait by Country Girl in the Village
- Root Beer Float Sandwich Cookies by Chocolate Moosey
- Gluten Free Brownies by Blueberries & Blessings
- Grilled Stone Fruit Parfait by Pescetarian Journal
- Blueberry Sorbet by Shockingly Delicious
- Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Tres Leches Cake by Happy Baking Days
- Beach Cupcakes by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Grilled Banana Dessert Bar by Home Cooking Memories
- Berries & Cream Pie by Treats & Trinkets
- Raspberry Lemonade Frozen Yogurt Pops by Runner’s Tales
- More S’mores by Growing Up Gabel
- Blackberry Peach Cobbler by Neighborfood
- Cornbread Cookies by Pies & Plots
- Funfetti Fluff Cheerio Treats by What Smells So Good?
- Pineapple Pudding by Granny’s Down Home Sassy Southern Cooking
In the Cooler:
- Cherry Caipiroska by Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Mint Tea Slushes by Cindy’s Recipes and Writing
- Prickly Pear Margaritas by Ruffles & Truffles
Nice to know, Katie. Never judge a stubbly fruit by its cover, right? After all the prickly one may yield lovely summertime drinks.
P.s. Thanks for the how-to on cutting a prickly pear, too =)
My pleasure! It was a new-to-me fruit as well…always fun to learn something fresh!
I never seen a prockly pear, but now my search is on! Love your margarita!!
Very creative! Seriously, I’ve never met a margarita I didn’t love. A company recently sent me some mini bottles of tequila to play around with, so think I might need to make these with some of it!!
Oooh – how fun to have some new samples to play around with…score!
I have no idea what a prickly pear tastes like, but at least now I know what to look for! And so far, I like margaritas, no matter the flavor!!
I had no idea what it would taste like either, so it was a food adventure!
What a cool recipe! Prickly Pear – now that is creative!
I’m just glad the farmers cut off the actual prongs/spikes from the pear first – knowing me, I’d have stabbed myself…
That cocktail has my name on it!
Great recipe, I will have to keep my eyes open for prickly pears!!!
It was my first time spotting them…definitely a new item on my list!
I have never tried prickly pears before. They have always intimidated me. I think I will have to try these margaritas.
I’ll admit: it was a little intimidating at first since I’d never actually tried preparing one before, but it wasn’t too bad! I figured for the $1 it cost, I could crash and burn without feeling too bad. Thankfully, it worked!
I’ve had a prickly pear margarita before…so I can’t wait to make these at home now!
So yummy! I’d had one at a restaurant before too…but I imagine they used the red prickly pears, since the drink turned out pink (so pretty). I’d love to find some red ones to use!
I’ve never tasted a prickly pear before, but I wouldn’t say no to one of your gorgeous margaritas!
Thanks, Liz!
I have never tried prickly pear, but I love cucumber in drinks so now I have to have a prickly pear margarita! So pretty too.
Cucumber drinks are definitely growing on me lately – so refreshing!
I’ve never tried prickly pear, but your drink looks so refreshing that now I want to find some! Seriously, you’re so brave – I know it was just $1 – but I’m always such a weenie about buying things on a whim if I don’t know how to prepare them.
I hear you…but thank goodness for the power of the Internet for some quick research before my purchase! Haha…I was totally looking up recipe ideas at the market.
I’ve never even seen prickly pear in the stores by us, but I’ll have to keep an eye out now. Any margarita is a friend of mine!
It was the first time I’d spotted them in my own area!
Now there’s an adventurous cocktail! I love your take on a margarita! Now where on earth can I find some prickly pears…?!
This sounds like a delicious margarita. I’ve never bought prickly pears, but this is all the encouragement I needed.
I have never tried a prickly pear, but it sure does sound great! Especially in a margarita. 🙂
Never tried prickly pear before but sounds delicious in these margaritas!Love the cranberry juice for a hint of color!! Gorgeous!
I add cranberry to so many drinks…it’s always on hand in the kitchen!
I’m so glad you went for it… nothing like new food adventures in the kitchen! Love this!!!
We call them tunas in mexico 🙂 but in the states we need to Say “tuna de nopal” or people think Were talking about the fish (which we call atun) :p
I love that! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ohhh yum. I know I would love this drink!
I’ve never tried a prickly pear but boy, your margaritas look delicious! yummmm!
Your cocktail looks very refreshing!
Prickly pear was very common in Arizona when I traveled there last year. I brought home some prickly pear honey. Maybe that would be a great addition to your fabulous drink!
That sounds seriously delicious!
Normally here in the Southwest we wait until they are ripe and bright red/purple as is the juice. It’s then a whole different flavor from the green fruit, maybe approaching pomegranate. Makes a wonderfully colored magarita
I really wish the pears at my market had been red! I did leave one of them out on the counter to see if it would change, but it just shriveled up…maybe the next time I spot them at the market I’ll get lucky and see some red ones!