Anybody know what these are???

[contessa20]

I'm wondering if anyone could identify these for me. I picked them up at the international farmer's market this afternoon on a whim and I'm wondering what they are and how to use them. Any idea???

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/contessa20/HPIM0950.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/contessa20/HPIM0948.jpg

[exurb]

The second one looks like a slightly underripe prickly pear cactus (though it's hard to tell from the photo). Is it pink inside with large seeds?

the first one, I couldn't tell you, but it looks amazing!!! What area do you live in/what's the climate there?

[contessa20]

Thanks exurb.
I kind of thought that one was a prickly pear but wasn't sure.
I don't know what it looks like inside though since I haven't opened any of them.
The other one I had NO CLUE.
It does look neat though.

We're in Delaware so I do know they aren't native by any means.
The climate is pretty hot and humid right about now (upper 90's) with all 4 seasons year round.

I wish they had had tags on things at the market but there were NONE.

Oh and it IS okay to eat the prickly pear raw right?
I've read a bunch of sites that say you're supposed to roast them first but, obviously, I don't want to do that.

Thanks again!!!!

[codajess]

I'm not sure, but I have a strong urge to pet that top one.

[RawNut]

Contessa20,

The first one looks like an immature durian to me. The second looks like an immature prickly pear. I've never had a durian but prickley pear grow around here. They are usually a reddish color when ripe and very seady (hard black seeds) with very staining red to purplish pulp inside. If you find out what they are, please let us know.

Craig

[Coriander74]

I'm not sure, but I have a strong urge to pet that top one.


:D I was just thinking that it would be a good cat toy!!

[dreamrawalwz]

I'm not sure, but I have a strong urge to pet that top one.

I was thinking the same thing :p

[contessa20]

I'm not sure, but I have a strong urge to pet that top one.

ROFLOL... I'm not sure you really want to do that.
When I saw them at the market I thought they were going to be kind of bristly but softish... umm no... it hurt... a lot.

[contessa20]

Contessa20,

The first one looks like an immature durian to me. The second looks like an immature prickly pear. I've never had a durian but prickley pear grow around here. They are usually a reddish color when ripe and very seady (hard black seeds) with very staining red to purplish pulp inside. If you find out what they are, please let us know.

Craig

Thanks Craig.

[Sheryl]

How big is the first one?

I find some of these strange berries are really something unique. I found one in China town in Toronto Canada, and what you did was open the little brown pea pod (light and dried) and eat the white fuzz from around the beans. It tasted like lemon sorbet. Cool eh??

Sheryl

[exurb]

Oh and it IS okay to eat the prickly pear raw right?

Oh yeah, for sure, you definitely want to eat them raw.

If you haven't eaten one, you sort of "pull" off the skin when you're peeling it, to separate it from the fruit. Then you just sort of have to decide on your method of chewing it, as they do have huge seeds in there.

The thing you don't want to do is what my husband did -- we were walking the path on the Cinque Terre in Italy, and there was a huge prickly pear "tree" with tons of really ripe lil fruit (I got so excited!), so he went to pick some for us, and was careful to not touch it near any of the big spikes -- but then his hands were full of tiny microscopic needles, I guess they have all sorts fine invisible needles in between the prickles, his hands were a mess and very painful, but is was worth it as they were totally amazing, hot from the sun, rich and ripe tasting, who says you can't eat raw when you travel!