Cactus pear, also commonly known as prickly pear, comes from a plant that features two edible parts, a fruit – the pear or tuna, and a vegetable – the pad of the cactus or nopal. Cactus pear has long been prominent in Mexican and Central American cuisine and has recently gained popularity in parts of the US. Cactus pear is found in a variety of dishes, including being eaten with eggs or in tacos. Traditionally, the fruit must be peeled to remove prickly spines, called glochids, before eating. Although the cactus pear grows wild from Canada through the American Southwest, down to South America, today there are also non-prickly versions available.