Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp., called Nopal in Spanish), Jerome, Arizona, 2014.After the saguaro

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp., called Nopal in Spanish), Jerome, Arizona, 2014.After the saguaro, the edible prickly pear is probably the best known cactus growing in the Sonoran desert. Northern Mexican cuisine often includes the pads, cooked or occasionally raw. Preparing the pad is a bit hazardous, as the spines must be removed. The pads are sometimes sold as tunas, though that name really only applies to the fruit, also edible and considered something of a treat as it is only available for a few weeks a year. -- source link

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