Cactus Pear Breakfast Shake

If you’ve never tried a cactus pear (also called prickly pear or tuna), this breakfast shake is a great introduction. The fruit blends into a stunning magenta puree with a flavor somewhere between watermelon, bubblegum, and banana, sweet and mild with a tropical edge that pairs perfectly with honey and cold milk.

The food mill step is important. Cactus pears are full of small, hard seeds that won’t break down in a blender no matter how long you run it. Pressing the peeled fruit through a food mill’s medium disk strains those seeds out while keeping all the pulp and juice. Skip this step and you’ll be crunching on seeds with every sip.

Once you have the smooth puree, everything goes into the blender: banana for body, ice for chill, honey for sweetness, and milk for creaminess. Blend until no chunks of ice remain and serve immediately. The color alone will make you want to drink this every morning.

Kitchen Tips

• Peel cactus pears carefully. Even after the spines are removed, tiny invisible glochids can irritate your skin. Use tongs and a fork, or wear gloves
• Choose fruits that give slightly when pressed, like a ripe avocado. Hard ones aren’t ripe yet
• A food mill works best, but you can push the fruit through a fine mesh strainer with a spoon as a substitute
• This shake separates quickly, so drink it right away or give it a quick stir

Variations

• Use coconut milk instead of regular milk for a dairy-free, tropical version
• Add a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the sweetness
• Blend in a handful of frozen strawberries for an even more vibrant color and berry flavor