Here's some pics of an edible nutritional powerhouse, prickly pears They grow wild here on the sand dunes of Long Island and easy to pick.

Really? I am surprised they live through the winter. I have issues with certain cacti here in FL.

Prickly pear cactus survive cold very well. They even survive Colorado's cold winters. They are sold here in the supermarkets already dethroned ready for eating. I have eaten them them, but found them a little too slimy for my taste.. - Millet

I use a small knife to cull out the seeds. Then I hand chop the fruits. They can be mixed in with any other fresh fruit such as bananas, pitted cherries, peaches, raisins, etc. and eaten. I'm also going to try running them through a juicer.

Try freezing the juice, it makes a nice ice. The cooked leaves are also edible, combo of green beans and okra, but there is a method to cook them to get it right.

Does anyone know the names of the cactus with large leaves and few needles. I have one that has red fruit (tunas) and one that has yellow fruit and another that has long narrow leaves. I only eat the fruit but have ate the leaves and would say it is ok. I would like to know the names.

I've tried them once & thought they were nasty...

A lot of Italians grow them here, call them 'fig of India'.

Laaz that one is common but not one of the good ones they tell me. And you know THEY know everything.

I have one in my yard looks similiar to the pic Laaz posted. I have eaten the fruit and thought it was good but you don't get much out of each one. The drawback I saw was the staining juices. I believe you could die shirts with it. A very electric purple.

Interesting. No way did I think these would survive outside in Northeastern US. I have a few plants started from store fruit that I bring inside. They are still small and for some reason not forming oval circle shape leaves like they are supposed to. Probably from lack of sun year round & warmth. Maybe next summer I will plant one or seeds on the ditch side of my inground pool that is sandy dirt and see if it survives the winter.

I actually like the taste of the ones I've had from the stores. Texture is kind of like watermellon somewhat (maybe a little grittier?). I just spit the seeds out. But got to be careful the outside of the fruit has hair thin short prickers that get stuck in skin and nearly impossible to see to get out.

To remove those almost microscopic ones use a really good grade of super sticky tape! You might lose a few hairs and some skin too.