The Hidden Table · 2026-09-09
Prickly pear
Prickly pear is the fruit of certain Opuntia cacti. Its juicy flesh contains many hard seeds; the skin can retain tiny irritating spines even when large spines are absent.
Caribbean uses
It can be served as peeled fruit or strained into drinks and sauces. In a contemporary Caribbean drink, its color works well with a modest amount of lime.
Preparation and storage
Prefer commercially cleaned fruit and handle the skin with gloves or tongs. Peel without touching residual spines and strain the pulp without crushing the seeds.
Recipe
Prickly pear: strained fresh drink
4 small glasses
Ingredients
- 200 g Prickly pear — edible pulp only, completely free of skin and seeds
- 500 ml cold drinking water
- 15 g sugar, optional
Method
- Separate the pulp from every seed before blending; do not crush seeds to extract the pulp.
- Blend seed-free pulp with water and strain if fibers remain.
- Taste, sweeten only if needed and serve cold. Refrigerate promptly and use the same day.
At the table
Its vivid juice makes a small, simple drink visually distinctive.
At The Hidden Table, we adapt the portion, accompaniments and presentation to your guests, so this ingredient has a thoughtful place in an experience made uniquely for you.