Nopales (Cactus). Yes, cactus are edible! And very good for you. They are great for lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Those of us that live in Mexico are lucky to have fresh nopales available daily at the market. But they taste even better when you go to El Rancho and cut them yourself.
Cooked nopales are traditionally used in Ensalada de Nopales (Cactus Salad) as a side dish, but they can be added to any dish. Some of my favorites include Mole Ranchero with pork loin and Nopales, Chilito de Chicharron with Nopales and Scrambled Eggs with Nopales.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound nopales, cleaned and sliced
- 1 sprig of cilantro
- 1/4 medium onion
- 1/2 cup Chopped tomato
- 1/2 cup Chopped onion
Directions:
Place the nopales, cilantro and onion in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and season with salt.
Cover the saucepan and cook over medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes. The nopales will turn a darker green.
Gently mix together the cactus, onion and chopped tomato. Season with salt. Enjoy!!!
With Love,
I am not a fan of nopales and their slimy texture but they remind me of my grandparents. They had cactus growing on the side of their house and every once in a while they would cut down a few pieces, and cook them for lunch.
ReplyDeletethanks for the memories.
I live in New Mexico and nopales a sold in almost every store...I love them with eggs...yum!
ReplyDeleteMy 10 year old daughter rejects most vegetables. She will eat nopales, though. She likes them grilled with salt and some lime juice squeezed on top. When they're grilled they're not nearly as slimy, and it's super simple to prepare them that way.
ReplyDeleteI love them in a salad, though, so thanks for the recipe!
You have no idea how much I love cactus! I don't know why I don't eat them that often. I think its because I don't ever go to the flea market, where their fresh. The one's from the supermarket look pretty yucky!
ReplyDeleteMy husband made "Ensalada de Nopales" for us for the first time last week. Our grocery store didn't carry it, but the guy that worked in the produce department (he was Mexican) brought some in for us special. He picked it fresh for us that morning! We enjoyed the salad and are now looking for some other recipes that include cactus. Do you have any more?
ReplyDeleteJAM: Yay! I'm so glad that you were able to find Nopales and that you liked them. You should try them grilled. As far as other recipes using Nopales, I should be posting one next week.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leslie! We'll be looking forward to seeing it and trying it out.
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you have any posts on your blog about making tortillas? My husband wants to try making them and he is hoping for some authentic tortilla making secrets.
btw... We both love your blog!
Yum!!! Nopales are low in calories and I heard they are good for people with diabetes. My mom prepares them in many different ways, but I have to say that I LOVE it when she prepares them with Tortitas de Camaron during Lent. They're great!
ReplyDeletei love love nopal! mmm when i tell people we eat them theyre like "whaat?" i love that ur white an cook mexican food! soo well! anywho do you know what "cochas" are? we eat those alot in my rancho we are from matamoros tamps and also san luis :)
ReplyDeleteAcreditamos que se se acrescentar uma pitada de açucar, durante a coção, a cor verde será mantida.Assim,aqui se faz com vargem ou outros "verde" que se quer preservar a cor.
ReplyDeleteAtencisamente,
JATeixeira
Um curioso ,em tudo na vida
Santa Catarina -Brasil
if you like nopales, you have to try them with chorizo. they are good, good, good......
ReplyDeleteI just tried nopales con chorizo not too long ago at the ranch and they were absolutely delicious! :)
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