How Do You Use Cactus Pads

Once you get the pad home, wash it and using the tongs again, use the knife to scrape off the spines. You can then peel off the skin if you wish and use the vegetable raw in salads or sautéed, boiled or roasted. You may also choose to use the pads medicinally, much like an aloe plant.

How do you eat a prickly pear cactus pad?

There are a variety of ways to prepare the pads: boiling, sautéing, pickling, grilled or chopped up and mixed raw in salads. I think they taste like a combination of okra and green pepper. The brightly colored “pears” at the top of the paddles can be peeled and eaten raw or made into jelly.

Are cactus pads healthy?

Cactuses are known for their nutrients as well as their medicinal value. Both cactus pads and cactus fruit can help fight infections and ease the symptoms of anything from hangovers to high cholesterol. Both the cactus pad and the cactus fruit are high in fiber, which can lower cholesterol levels in the blood.