🌵 What Makes This Recipe So Good
Knowing how to cook nopales is great for a lot of reasons. 1) It’s another easy dish to keep in your back pocket. 2) Nopales are really versatile. 3) They’re delicious. 4) They’re good for you. 5) They’re low carb, keto-friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, and Whole30-compatible. Speaking of “good for you”… Besides fitting various dietary needs, nopal cactus pads contain a bunch of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They’re anti-inflammatory and a good fiber source. Some studies even show they may give your immune system a boost, may lower blood sugar levels, and may help reduce cholesterol. Nopales make a great stand-in for meat in dishes like tacos and burritos, in much the same way you’d use eggplant in lasagna or mushrooms for burger buns. They’re hearty and meaty, super tender with a really subtle flavor.
đź‘€ How to Choose Nopales
Look for paddles that are flexible, but not soft. If they’re floppy or flimsy, keep looking until you find ones that just bend, with a little bit of give. They should be bright green, without dark spots. The brighter the better! Try to get paddles that are 6-8 inches long. Smaller nopales are more tender, but also more difficult to work with. Larger nopales can be tough or stringy.
👩🏼‍🍳 Chef’s Tips
Handling nopales can be a little tricky… they’re prickly pear cactus leaves, after all! Usually when you get nopales at the grocery store, most of the thorns have already been removed. You may still need to do a little trimming, though. Hold the cactus paddles with tongs or a kitchen towel so you’re not grabbing the thorns directly. They can be sharp! You can also wear gloves if that’s easier. If you happen to live in the southwestern United States or Mexico, where prickly pear cacti abound, then you’re probably already familiar with where to find and how to cook nopales. They’re typically available at most grocery stores out that way – I know HEB carried a mess of them when I lived in Austin! If you’re further out, though, you may need to visit a well-stocked international market to find your cactus pads.
🥗 Ways to Use Nopales
On their own, tossed in chimichurri and then topped with a sprinkle of shredded pepper jack. In tacos, with chicken, beef, steak, or shrimp. With carne asada, rice, beans, and grilled or sautéed onions. Stuffed into burritos, folded into quesadillas, or added to fajitas. As the base for salads or an add-in for burrito bowls. Inside a Mexican omelette or breakfast tacos, with huevos rancheros, or as part of a chorizo breakfast bowl.
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