Moroccan Arabic: el karmouss el hindi الكرموس الهندي
Prickly pears – also called cactus fruit, cactus figs, Indian figs, barbary figs, and tuna – are the fruit of the Opuntia cactus plant. They're most commonly found in the Mediterranean, in the Southwest United States, in Mexico, in North Africa and in parts of South Africa.
Prickly pears get their name from the glochids, or tiny hair-like spines which are on the fruit's skin. Once the skin is removed, the interior fruit is spine-free and safe to eat. See How to Peel Prickly Pears.
Prickly pear fruit may vary in color to from green to yellow-orange to deep red. Its seeds are edible, and the fruit can be eaten whole, sliced, chopped, or pureed and then strained to make a juice.
When selecting prickly pears ripe for eating, look for firm fruit that yields slightly to the touch. The texture should be similar to that of a ripe pear.
