Xoconostle

What it is

Opuntia joconostle bears round to oval fruits up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long and 5.5 cm (2.2 in) across. Their skin ranges from pale green to red. A sweet prickly pear has a thin skin around juicy, seedy pulp; a xoconostle has a thick, sour wall and very little pulp, so the wall is the part cooks use.

Xoconostle is also a shared name for the sour fruits of several related cacti. This page's species is Opuntia joconostle; the one most grown for sale is Opuntia matudae.

Where it comes from

This cactus grows wild only in Mexico, in Aguascalientes, Durango, Hidalgo, Jalisco, the State of Mexico, Michoacán, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas, mostly at 1,500–2,200 m (4,900–7,200 ft). It is also cultivated for its fruit. Across the Altiplano and Bajío, people gather xoconostles from wild cactus stands for their own kitchens and for sale, fresh or processed.

How it's eaten where it grows

In Mexico, xoconostle adds sourness to mole de olla, pork dishes and pico de gallo. It also becomes candied fruit and fruit in syrup.

A salsa from the State of Mexico starts with xoconostles, onion and jalapeños roasted on a comal, a flat griddle. The fruit is peeled and deseeded; some is ground with the onion and the rest diced. Marjoram, mint or spearmint finishes the salsa, leaving little pieces of sour fruit among the roasted ingredients.

How it's grown

The cactus forms a densely branching shrub up to 3 m (10 ft) tall, with white spines. It handles the Mexican plateau’s droughts and frosts and grows in thin, poor soil. Yellow flowers usually appear from March to May. The fruit ripens slowly and can stay attached for a long time.

When and where you'll find it

Opuntia joconostle usually fruits in May and from July to October, and its fruits stay on the cactus for most of the year. In Mexico, xoconostles are sold fresh and as candied and dried sweets, fruit in syrup, juices and local liqueurs.

In the US, Latin groceries are one route to the fresh fruit: a Houston cook found xoconostles at a Fiesta store.