Prickly Pear Jelly
Prickly Pear Jelly is a vibrant, jewel-toned fruit preserve made from the juice of the prickly pear cactus fruit, also known as 'tuna' in Spanish-speaking regions. Its primary ingredients are prickly pear juice, sugar, and pectin, and it's a traditional sweet treat popular in the American Southwest, Mexico, and the Mediterranean.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This jelly is primarily a source of simple carbohydrates from sugar, with negligible fat and protein. It provides a notable amount of vitamin C and some minerals like magnesium and potassium, with a typical serving containing around 50-60 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 55 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbs | 14 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 13 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Vitamin C | 2 mg |
| Magnesium | 3 mg |
| Potassium | 15 mg |
| Manganese | 0.01 mg |
| Calcium | 2 mg |
Per 1 tablespoon (20 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Prickly pear jelly is unique for its stunning, natural magenta-pink color, which comes from the fruit's betalain pigments—the same antioxidants that give beets their deep red hue. Nutritionally, the fruit itself is a good source of fiber and antioxidants, though much of this is lost in the jelly-making process.
