Rarely will you stumble across a comestible that looks as unappetizing as a
prickly pear cactus. Nevertheless, both parts of the above-ground portion of this thorny BASTARD (try "picking" prickly pear pads without gloves and you will discover that you too have the propensity for uttering expletives once reserved for only the saltiest of sailors) are edible. While cacti are typically thought of as strictly denizens of the desert, prickly pears are commonly found both in the wild and sometimes not-so-wild ornamental landscape
plantings throughout the foothills region. The pads, referred to south-of-the-border as "nopales", are actually quite tasty and make a yummy addition to the pictured Mexican-Malaysian-Foraging fusion dish of Shrimp and Eggplant Curry with Nopales and Dandelion Greens.
Rarely will you stumble across a comestible that looks as unappetizing as a prickly pear cactus. Nevertheless, both parts of the above-ground portion of this thorny BASTARD (try "picking" prickly pear pads without gloves and you will discover that you too have the propensity for uttering expletives once reserved for only the saltiest of sailors) are edible. While cacti are typically thought of as strictly denizens of the desert, prickly pears are commonly found both in the wild and sometimes not-so-wild ornamental landscape 
plantings throughout the foothills region. The pads, referred to south-of-the-border as "nopales", are actually quite tasty and make a yummy addition to the pictured Mexican-Malaysian-Foraging fusion dish of Shrimp and Eggplant Curry with Nopales and Dandelion Greens.
