Cactus plants are native to arid and semi-arid areas; the cactus plant has thorny fleshy leaves. There are different types of cactus, there are those which are edible, and others are non–edible; the edible cactus includes nopales.
So what does cactus taste like?
Cactus is somehow sour. You can cook edible cactus as a vegetable, most popular in Europe, Australia, the middle east, some parts of America, India, and North Africa.
Not all the cactus parts are edible; the nopales cactus plant has fleshy leaves called the edible cactus pads.
There are many ways you can eat nopales. For example, you can add tocos or mix with eggs. You can also eat them in their raw form. Nopales have oval-shaped leaves and belong to the family Cactaceae and are fleshier.
We have another edible cactus known as prickly pear with different edible parts; these parts include:
- Cactus paddles, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, the cactus paddles are cooked with many dishes,
- You can add flower petals as salads or topping to different dishes.
- The pear, it as colors ranging from yellow to red. The fruit is blended to make a sweet smoothie; you can chop them into smaller pieces and add them to dishes like salads.
What does a cactus pear taste like?
You will find cactus pear in most groceries in town, and somehow it is a favorite for many because of its sour taste. The pads, a.k.a nopales, are edible too. Take note, it’s color variations do not indicate maturity.
How to eat a cactus pear?
First of all, remove the spines because they sting a lot. While removing, make sure you put on thick gloves for your safety. Traditionally, people removed spines through roasting, rubbing on a rough surface, or remove the spines using a knife.
After removing the spines, remove the outer skin using a sharp knife, and bisect the cactus pear vertically into small slices that you can incorporate into different dishes.
Cactus pear fruit has uncountable seeds that you can make a dish from, although it is not common for many people. The cactus pear also has sweet juices you can add to your favorite beverages.
What does cactus juice taste like?
What does cactus juice taste like? Cactus juice is sour with a crackling sound. You can use it to make your soups thick. Therefore, it is an excellent ingredient for making tasty soup.
The taste of cactus pads is similar to that of green beans, but its fruit has a sweet taste and bears many seeds inside.
Its fruits have some juicy water that contains iron, vitamin C, Calcium, and fiber suitable for making shakes and juices.
Why do people like to eat various parts of a cactus plant? It is because of its anti-inflammatory properties found in raw edible cactus. Raw cactus, for example, is richer in fiber, proteins, and calcium. The red-purple varieties of pear cactus have shear antioxidants that help remove toxins in our bodies.
How to eat cactus: Cooking cactus
For some of us is not easy, especially if you cooking cactus for the first time. Select small, bright, and firm leaves from the cactus, which are the best to cook, and also it takes less time to be ready. For wrinkled leaves, cut off their spines before cooking. Make sure you remove all the spine using either the traditional or the modern methods, and then chop them into small sizes and boil them in a pot. After some time cooking, reduce the heat for around 25 minutes to simmer, drain hot water and add cold water; after that, rinse once. Store them in a fridge if you will not use them once. Consume your boiled cactus with scrambled eggs or salads for breakfast or dessert.
What does cooked cactus taste like?
As mentioned earlier in this article, a cactus plant has different edible parts, and in some parts, you can eat them raw while other parts require cooking. Pads, for example, are regarded as vegetables and require cooking to soften. So, what does cooked cactus taste like? Interestingly, when you cook pads, they change the texture and become crunchy, sour taste and crispy. It is not a superfood because it is not common, but it is a healthy diet, after all.
How does cactus benefit our health?
If you are looking for juicy fruit, cactus fruit will never fail you. Consider it if you are looking to reduce cholesterol or sugar levels in your body. not only that, nopales cactus will assist your body in healing wounds and prevent certain diseases.
The plant also has antioxidants, a group of vitamins that acts against the effects of free radicals. This plant is magical somehow; imagine, it acts as a pain killer and improves the immune system, plus, it protects the liver.
Traditionally, cactus was used to treat and prevent certain conditions and symptoms, including liver conditions, ulcers, treating wounds, fatigue, and glaucoma.
The Cactus plant is a native in Mexico. It is used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat diabetes because nopales is rich in fiber content. For those of us with extra meats, the cactus plant is the ultimate natural option to watch your weight or shed extra contents in your body.
The Cactus plant has medicinal values; it helps treat enlarged prostate glands, protect the nerve cells, and treat hangovers due to strain or too much alcohol.
Conclusion
What does cooked cactus taste like? We have learned that cactus is an edible plant, fond of arid and semi-arid areas for particular reasons. They store water during the rainy season to use when the weather aggravates. Take note that not all parts of a cactus plant are edible, only the pads, leaves, and petals. You can consume raw fruits while flowers or leaves require cooking. If you love juices or shakes, you can make some from juicy cactus fruits.
So, what does cactus taste like? It is crunchy sour when cooked, and when added to beverages, the taste is sweet. Its nutritional value is unmatched, and you can add to different dishes.
