Prickly Pears

I was surprised when I found out that the ubiquitous prickly pear that is found everywhere in Sicily actually came from the New World. They are called ficupali in Sicilian and fichi d’India (Indian figs) in Italian, so I had always thought that they were native to the Mediterranean region. Prickly pears are the fruit of a cactus plant, so they need to be handled with care. To peel the fruit, cut the top and the bottom so that the pieces remain attached on both ends. Then make a cut down the remaining strip of skin, and extract the fruit. The color of the fruit ranges from chartreuse to magenta. The pulp is similar in texture to watermelon, but is full of little seeds that cannot be removed. Bite into the fruit, let it melt into your mouth enjoying the sweetness, and swallow its seeds and pulp without chewing it. Next time you see them at the supermarket, don’t be afraid to try one.