The Prickly Pear Cookbook

by Carolyn Niethammer, Robin Stancliff (Photographer)

Those bristly cactus spines are guarding something really good to eat. Like chocolate, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and chile, prickly pear cacti are one of the true treasures of the Americas. As a food, prickly pear is delicious, nutritious, and increasingly believed to be medicinal. Native Americans have enjoyed it for thousands of years, but transplants now flourish worldwide, particularly around the Mediterranean. But how do you transform a live pincushion into a delicious smoothie, cool salad, or a pie as pink and airy as the desert dawn?

In her unique, beautiful cookbook Carolyn Niethammer has collected 56 enticing international recipes for the succulent fruit and tender green pads (or "nopalitos") of the prickly pear. A wild-food expert and master cook, she guides readers all the way from cactus patch to casserole, from easy spine removal techniques to Prickly Pear Barbecue Shrimp with Roasted Corn and Black Bean Relish. Other highlights of this marvelous collection are such simple yet sensational delights as Easy Nopalito Salsa, Sabra Souffle, Chicken Yucatan, Prickly Pear Gelato, Prickly Pear Kuchen, and Prickly Pear Wine. 24 full-color photographs

Genres: Cookbooks

120 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

Reviews

[Beth Nieman · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a lengthy and informative introduction, readers will get an idea of how the prickly pear, native to the Americas, has traveled all over the world and is catching the attention of master chefs. Pads and fruits are both edible. Really lovely-looking recipes (with photos) take the prickly pear from breakfast to snacks, appetizers, entrees and dessert. Nicely done!

[Barbra Quade]

Nice photographs throughout this recipe book.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the book I needed to help me prepare and cook the leaves and fruits of the large cactus in my backyard. It assume you know nothing about eating cacti and gives you the basics.

[Heidi Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes and some interesting history on the prickly pear. It also has some harvesting tips.