Nopales Salad

Here’s a delicious recipe for Nopales Salad, a refreshing dish made with cooked cactus paddles (nopales) that can be served as a side or main dish.

Nopales Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound small nopal cactus paddles (about 8 pieces)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
• 1 small white onion, sliced into ¼-inch pieces
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 1-2 hot green chiles (like serrano or jalapeño), finely chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons crumbled Mexican queso fresco (or feta cheese)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Nopales:

• Clean the cactus paddles by trimming off the edges and scraping off the spiny nodes using a sharp knife. Rinse them under running water.
• Cut the nopales into ½-inch squares or strips.

1. Cook the Nopales:

• In a medium saucepan, add the chopped nopales, 1 tablespoon of oil, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Uncover and continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated and the nopales are tender, about 5 more minutes. Spread them out on a plate to cool.

1. Mix the Salad:

• In a large bowl, combine the cooled nopales with sliced onion, diced tomato, chopped green chiles, and cilantro.
• Drizzle with lime juice and add more salt if needed. Toss gently to combine.

1. Serve:

• Top with crumbled queso fresco just before serving. Enjoy your nopales salad as a refreshing side dish or light meal!

Tips

• You can grill the nopales instead of boiling them for added flavor. Brush them with oil and grill until tender and slightly charred.
• This salad pairs well with grilled meats or can be served in tacos.

Nopales are not only delicious but also nutritious, making this salad a great addition to any meal! Enjoy!