Tuna--Fruit of the Nopal (CACTUS FRUIT)

Growing up Chicana I learned a lot about the cactus, namely, that it is edible and delicious. 

My grandmother used to have a collection of

cactus plants when we lived out in Kingsburg, California. 

Some of my earliest memories are of

watching her cut the plump tunas off the nopal. 

Tunas are the fruits of the cactus and that is what this

photo is of. Cactus is called un nopal in Spanish and it is part of our cuisine. 

To eat, one must first wear gardening gloves to cut the tunas off the cactus, as the cactus has thorns. Then, you remove the rest of the thorns off the plant and peel the skin off the tunas. Inside, the fruit is bright red and soft. You eat it as is; no cooking or spices required! 

The cactus that the tuna grows on can be skinned, cut into strips, seeped in water, drained, and eaten.

It has a sort of slimy texture, so it is an acquired taste. 

However, once you get used to the tangy taste

you grow very fond of laying some nopales down on your omelette. You can top this off with a sprinkling of crumbly Mexican cheese. Nopales are said to be good for warding off diabetes.

I think I will draw some tuna now. Tuna is sort of a symbol of my Chicana heritage, and I think I will go draw some cactus fruit now! :)