Anyone ever eat or cooked cactus ?

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
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I saw some cactus for sale in the produce section today for $1.49 / LB.
They were the flat round type, about 6 inches x 3 inches and had the thorns removed.

What do you do with these ?
I have never heard of anyone cooking or eating cactus.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
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People eat cactus? WTH does it taste like?
I've only heard of people consuming mescaline-containing cactus...
hmm

+
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: destrekor
People eat cactus? WTH does it taste like?
I've only heard of people consuming mescaline-containing cactus...
hmm

+

tastes like sour green beans
 

Ramma2

Platinum Member
Jul 29, 2002
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I ate it down in Puerto Vallarta last month; it wasn't great. I'd say it had the texture of a thick, tough string bean, and tasted like what you'd expect a cactus to taste like.
 

MiniDoom

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2004
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Make tea from a special Peruvian cactus occasionally. Tastes like crap.
 

fuzzybabybunny

Moderator<br>Digital & Video Cameras
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Jan 2, 2006
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I was hiking and carved out a chunk of raw cactus. Tasted pretty "green" and like kiwi to me.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
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Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I was hiking and carved out a chunk of raw cactus. Tasted pretty "green" and like kiwi to me.

If you did that in the Sonora desert, I will probably kill you.
 

daveshel

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
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That's prickly pear. It's prepared as a side dish, used in jellies and desserts, and even as flavoring in homebrew.
 

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
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I've had it in various forms. It's tasty if cooked right. The flavor by itself is kind of weird. Sort of like one third green bean, one third okra, one third citrus.
 

IEC

Elite Member
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Jun 10, 2004
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Surprisingly, I have had a piece of cactus and some cactus juice before. Both were quite interesting.
 

LS21

Banned
Nov 27, 2007
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mexican restaurants serve it frequently. i think they just sautee it until its soft and sloppy. the taste is just a mellow sourness, as if it was braised in water and lemon juice.

im sure there are inventive ways to make it good; i just havent had it
 

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
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Nov 30, 2005
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I've had cactus salsa before. It was really yummy.

KT
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
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I have. I slice it thin and saute it. It tastes a lot like green beans.
 

jjones

Lifer
Oct 9, 2001
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My wife eats nopales frequently. I have on occasion but I don't much care for them.