Best 4 Prickly Pear Jelly Recipes
Prickly pear jelly is a delicious and unique treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Made from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, this jelly has a sweet and slightly tart flavor that is perfect for spreading on toast, biscuits, or pancakes. Prickly pear jelly is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. If you're looking for a new and exciting jelly to try, prickly pear jelly is a great option. With its unique flavor and health benefits, it's sure to become a favorite in your home.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
PRICKLY PEAR JELLY
This is my grandmother's recipe. It is good on anything grape jelly is good on! Handle prickly pears carefully, wearing gloves. Store jelly in a cool, dark area.
Provided by Jennifer Simons
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Canning and Preserving Recipes Jams and Jellies Recipes
Time P1DT58m
Yield 24
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Simmer 3 pint-size jars in a large pot of water until ready for use. Wash lids and rings in warm soapy water.
- Slice ends off each prickly pear. Make 1 long vertical slit down each one. Use the slit to hold the skin and peel off. Discard peel.
- Place peeled pears in a blender; puree in batches until liquefied. Press puree through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl. Discard pulp and seeds.
- Measure out 3 cups prickly pear juice, lemon juice, and pectin into a large pot. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add sugar and return to a boil, stirring constantly. Let cook, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Pour prickly pear mixture into hot jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
- Place a rack in the bottom of a stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the stockpot, and process for 15 minutes.
- Remove the jars from the pot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, and let cool, at least 24 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 193.3 calories, Carbohydrate 48.8 g, Fat 0.6 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 0.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.1 g, Sodium 5.8 mg, Sugar 37.5 g
TUNA ( PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS FRUIT ) JELLY
A gorgeously colored, flavorful jelly. This recipe does not double well. It also calls for liquid pectin, but powdered seems to jell a little better. While this recipe is written in a relatively old-fashioned way, it is perfectly safe if processed using modern methods. If you are unfamiliar with these techniques, please go to http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_home.html for the current information.
Provided by Molly53
Categories Fruit
Time 40m
Yield 12 half pints
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Pluck the fruit from the cactus with a long handled fork or tongs.
- Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands: wash fruit under running water, then use a brush to clean (spines left on the fruit will soften during the cooking process and should come off after the fruit is strained).
- Place in stockpot with about a cup of water.
- Stir until boiling, cover pan and simmer until tender and soft.
- Mash cooked fruit and strain using cheesecloth, a jelly bag or a fine sieve; set aside for juice to settle (for very clear jelly, do not use the portion containing sediment).
- Measure sugar into a separate pan.
- Bring juice and pectin just to boil, stirring constantly, and begin to add sugar slowly with constant stirring, taking about 5 minutes to add sugar, and keeping juice nearly at a boil.
- Then bring to a rolling boil and boil for three minutes longer.
- Remove from heat, let stand a few seconds, skim, pour quickly into jars and seal while hot.
- Process for ten minutes in a boiling water bath.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 565.1, Fat 0.6, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 7.1, Carbohydrate 144.9, Fiber 4.3, Sugar 133.3, Protein 0.9
PRICKLY PEAR JELLY
This recipe was given to me from Grandma. I made a many a time, but it never tasted like Grandma made.
Provided by Eddie Jordan
Categories Jams & Jellies
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- 1. Cut up singed, underipe fruit, cover cover with water and boil 15 to 20 minutes or until fruit is tender.
- 2. Press through a sieve then allow to drip from jelly bag to collect juice
- 3. Add pectin to prickly pear and lemon juice's and bring to hard, rough-and -tumble boil that cannot be stired down.
- 4. Add the seven cups of sugar and hard boil for 5 minutes. Skim, pour into sterilized jelly glasses and seal.
BEACHCOMBER'S PRICKLY PEAR JELLY
Yeppers, the deep burgundy knobs on top of Prickly pears that develop in the fall are the source of a fantastic tasting juice that has been associated with numerous health benefits. It is apparently much better known for its exquisite taste in Italy and France than in the US (excluding some in Southwestern states). Be forewarned the pursuit of the tunas (that's the name of the fruit) is fraught with spiny obstacles - the cactus pads have LARGE NEEDLE_LIKE SPINES & the fruits have deceptive little bumps that are composed of tiny hair-like spines just a few millimeters long that work into the fingers of the unwary - must go prepared & protected. After several harvesting forays I have concluded the thick latex dish washing gloves that go midway up my forearm seem to afford the best protection. But it is worth it! The juice is mildly astringent with an initial taste reminiscent of raspberries and blueberries and an aftertaste that is delicately floral, not unlike the floral essence of rambutans. The beautiful magenta jelly has prompted all tasters to tentatively savor the initial dab & immediately dig in for more! Have your jars washed & waiting in simmering hot water bath before starting & put lids in to simmer when bringing strained juice to a boil. Note - prep time does not include stalking the fruit! We are lucky because the condos across the street use these for landscaping and it takes less than 10 minutes to harvest a colander full!
Provided by Busters friend
Categories Jellies
Time 1h
Yield 9 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Harvest tunas (prickly pear fruits) wearing thick gloves. A 2 quart colander full to top should yield about 8 cups juice. Be sure to include a few that still are a wee bit green if possible. Do NOT handle these with bare hands (you will be sorry because they are deceptive- she writes while gnawing at her right thumb pad - LOL).
- Rinse the fruits in a colander (we have a lot of salt spray here). Then put them in a large nonreactive kettle with the 2 cups of water. Cover & bring to rapid simmer. Simmer until fruit soft - about 30 minutes.
- Ladle now mushy fruits into blender & blend with enough water to make thick slurry. Ok to do this after fruits cool if this recipe has been too high risk up to this point. Otherwise blend when hot but be sure to hold down blender lid with a thick cloth between it & your hand because boiling brilliant magenta juice with tiny tiny spines REALLY hurts! (Clorox cleanup gets it off countertops & walls).
- Pour blended fruits back into pan with residual water & stir.
- Drape 4 layers of cheesecloth in colander (which should sit in another pot or bowl) & dampen.
- Pour or ladle then pour the brilliant magenta fruit slurry into the cheesecloth & gather the edges to twist and squeeze the juice out (need to wait a bit if the mush inside is still hot). Your hands will be stained brilliant magenta if you opt not to wear gloves but the cheesecloth effectively sieves out any little spines.
- Rinse out the initial kettle (use those gloves just to be safe) and pour the strained juice back into it. Add lemon juice. Heat to boil & add the 2 packets of powdered pectin. Bring to a hard boil for 1-2 minutes.
- Add 7 cups of sugar, blend well & bring to a hard boil for 2 minutes.
- Ladle into sterilized 1 cup jars, lid & process in covered hot water bath for 20 minutes. Leave 1/2 inch headroom when filling jars & be sure to have jars in hot water bath covered by at least 2 inches of water.
- Remove from bath & place on flat towel on counter. Jars should "pop" within 5 minutes. ENJOY!
Tips:
- Choose ripe prickly pears: Look for fruits that are deep red or purple, plump, and free of blemishes. Avoid fruits that are green or have any signs of damage.
- Handle prickly pears carefully: The spines on prickly pears can be sharp and irritating. Use gloves or a pair of tongs to handle the fruits.
- Prepare the prickly pears properly: Before you start cooking with prickly pears, you need to remove the spines and peel the fruit. To do this, first, cut off the ends of the fruit. Then, score the skin lengthwise, and carefully peel it off. Be careful not to cut yourself on the spines.
- Use a sharp knife: When cutting prickly pears, use a sharp knife to avoid crushing the fruit. This will help to preserve the fruit's natural flavor and color.
- Cook the prickly pears quickly: Prickly pears are a delicate fruit, so it's important not to overcook them. Cook them over medium heat until they are just softened.
- Add sugar to taste: Prickly pears can be quite tart, so you may want to add sugar to taste when cooking them. You can also add other sweeteners, such as honey or agave nectar.
Conclusion:
Prickly pears are a unique and delicious fruit that can be used to make a variety of dishes, from jams and jellies to salads and desserts. If you are looking for a new and exciting way to use this versatile fruit, be sure to try one of the recipes in this article. With a little planning and effort, you can easily create delicious and memorable meals that will impress your family and friends.
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