Did you know that cactus can be eaten too? If not, well don’t feel bad, you aren’t alone. Cactus is not only edible but has been treated as a vegetable for a long time in Mexico. It is because cactus has a lot of nutritious values. Other than being an eccentric plant, cactus can also improve our health and contribute to our daily dishes.
What is Cactus
The spiky plan we see that look like a tree but in an odd shape is known as cactus. A lot of people still don’t know that cactus is edible and can be cooked too. Well, how can a nutritious and delicious plant be not edible? The Cactus is known as a plant that is generally grown in deserts or sands. It is actually the pads or the flat green leaves that we eat like vegetables. But cactus can be anywhere from pale to deep green in color.
It is much better to eat them in their early days. Those that are harvested in early spring are known to be the most delicious. It is also more delicate to eat cactus when they are small. At that stage, they have fewer spikes though edible cactus is sold without spines or thorns. As they get older their pads also get thicker, so the pads are a good indicator of how old or young the cactus is. About quarter-inch thick pads are considered to be firm and delicate.
Is It Safe to Eat Cactus?
If you are wondering whether it is even safe to eat cactus, you aren’t wrong. Some cactus are edible whereas others arent/ Some cactus can be poisonous too. It goes without saying that we only eat edible cactus which is also known as nopales or cactus pads. If the pad is thin but soft, you can avoid it as it means the pad is old.
You can also find the pads at the markets in pieces or as a whole. You can even find canned cactus that you can store for longer. However, it will taste better if you cook it within a few days. It can be stored properly and reserved for a week or so.
What does Cactus Taste Like
Although we mostly see the pads or the leaves of cactus, the edible parts include flowers, and fruits, too.
Taste
The taste of cactus is pretty unique. However, it isn’t anything overwhelming. Rather most people describe the taste as mild and sour. The flavor is almost bland and intrusive. The sourness is also very subtle. Inside the cactus is very similar to okra or cucumber. When you cut it open, the texture will be slimy and pale like okra.
There will also be a thick liquid like that of okra. That is actually the liquid or water cactus preserve in order to drink in a deserted area.
Texture
Although cactus pad’s exterior is crunchy, it will taste like okra too. The taste of pads is also similar to zucchini or asparagus. On the other hand, the fruit of edible cactus, which is pretty rare to find tastes sweet. It also has seeds inside that taste crunchy. So if you bite a cactus fruit you'll find both firm and crunchy textures together.
The overall taste of cactus still depends immensely on how it's being cooked. In fact, it varies so much that the texture can range anywhere from soft, tender, and firm, to meaty and crunchy. If you eat it raw, it will have the same texture or crispiness as some vegetables. You can also reduce the sliminess by cooking it in particular ways.
Smell
If we talk about the smell of cactus, we have to compare it to cucumber. If you have ever had a smell of cucumber, you will see that it is not completely bland. It has a mild aroma that is fresh. Well, cactus is similar. Since it holds a lot of fo water in its body, the smell of cactus is refreshing and enjoyable.
But the smell is quite mild and subtle so you won’t be able to notice at all. The taste and smell of cactus can enhance if we try to cook it in a proper way. As a starter, you can try to get this box of cactus that is firm, pickled, and preserved!
Health Benefits
Cactus are full of nutritious values. If we try to analyze the data we get from USDA, we find a huge list of nutrients from eating cooked cactus. At first, we see that cactus, even when cooked, holds a lot of water in its body which can fill up our hydration quota for the day. Then we see the amount of calcium and potassium it has. 100g cactus can provide 160mg calcium, 140mg sodium, and 250g potassium. This means that by eating 100g cactus we can also fulfill our required minerals.
Moreover, it also provides a little bit of protein, vitamin b6, folate, riboflavin, niacin, copper, and zinc. We also get magnesium, phosphorus, and iron from eating only 100g of cactus. The minerals in cactus are rich and nutritious. Another great thing about cactus is that there is no amount of sugar in them which makes them healthy for diabetic people to eat too.
A lot of these nutrients come from the hydrated pads of cactus. It has antioxidants that can help people of all ages. What antioxidants do is they fight the molecules in our body that cause damage to our cells in the body. Cactus also has antiviral properties that can prevent some viruses to make our immunity weaker. The most significant nutritious value of cactus is that it has a neuroprotective capacity that can save our body and nerves from getting damaged.
This one particular part makes it a healthier option than most other food. It can also help us balance blood sugar and relieve blood pressure. This means that people with diabetes can consider eating cactus to control their insulin levels. However, a proper recommendation from doctors is needed too.
Conclusion
You may treat it as another vegetable, but cactus is a unique food to taste. And the best part is even vegans and vegetarians can eat it too. The secret to the taste of cactus is cooking it in the proper ways.
There are many ways to prepare it as well. Since you are already interested, you might want to watch this video on 3 different ways to cook cactus as a dish.
