tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400219905863730154.post1067302028538113793..comments2023-10-22T01:22:40.529+11:00Comments on The Natural History and Antiquities of Lalor: Rambling, ambling, bramblingAlexis, Baron von Harlothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675225579658733004noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400219905863730154.post-22316084050513477392014-02-07T11:26:59.090+11:002014-02-07T11:26:59.090+11:00I think you could probably eat them raw, but I'...I think you could probably eat them raw, but I've only ever had them cooked. You have to be really careful about cutting off the spines (obviously). It's a job best done while wearing gloves, using tongs, and holding the pad over a bit of newspaper, or something you can just wrap up and chuck in the bin/compost. Once I've sliced the spines off (I just run a knife under them), I cut the pad into strips and then boil for a bit, then use as a stirfry ingredient or whatever. <a href="http://www.eatthatweed.com/edible-weeds-book/" rel="nofollow">The Weed Forager's Handbook</a> suggests using them as a pizza topping. They're not especially flavourful, but a nice bright green. The fruit are very pretty, but the spines on their coats are smaller, less visible, and so a bit more finickety and annoying than the ones on the leaves.Alexis, Baron von Harlothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04675225579658733004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400219905863730154.post-86264767662133632942014-02-07T10:44:38.630+11:002014-02-07T10:44:38.630+11:00Well done on your snaffling. I didn't know pri...Well done on your snaffling. I didn't know prickly pear pads were edible! Do they need cooking or preparing in some way? There are squillions of them near my place, and I've been eyeing off the fruit for some close to home foraging, but never thought the rest could be used.Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.com