New fruit from the store across the road. I asked some dude, said it was a kind of (indian/iranian) fig, but the thing has tiny little spikes (possibly filled with venom). It's pear-shaped with black pits in it. And i have prickles in my right fingers. What is it?

Sounds like prickly pear fruit.

Is it the fruit of the prickly pear?

Better pictures here.

Is there an echo in here?

I was singing the jungle book while picking the shards out of my hand, so yes, thank you, both. Figs, my arse. Theyre sitting on the sofa looking at me until i decide to include them in an experimental omelette.

An omelette is NOT the way to go.

Really, you should just slice and peel one, taste how good it isn't, then throw the lot away. They're never all that sweet and they're pretty astringent. The seeds are a pain in the ass. They make decent jam and candy, but only if you're desperate for a fruit-like substance.

And picking them in Texas is always a stupid, yet somehow unavoidably tempting proposition. In addtition to the spines, they also harbor fire ants.

I'd never heard them called Iranian figs before Jan's link, but then again, why would Texans call them that?

Yeah, but you don't like cilantro. So how I trust you on taste?

"Can*

Good call on the memories, Pupps.

Let's try it this way: You make a prickly pear omelette and get back to me. Remember that I advised against it.

As for trust, we'll go from there.