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Diced cooked nopales on a white platter with a serving spoon
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5 from 4 ratings

How To Cook Nopales (Step-By-Step Guide)

Let's make nopales together! I've eaten my fair share of this edible cactus paddle (it's usually one of the only vegetarian breakfast tacos in South Texas). We're walking you through how to cook nopales with step-by-step photos to help you tackle this intimidating (but delicious) dish.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Halal, Hindu, Kosher, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: cactus leaves, how to cook cactus, how to cook nopales, nopales
Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Occasion: Christmas, Cinco de Mayo
Time: 30 minutes or less, 45 minutes or less
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Sarah Bond

Ingredients

  • 2 cactus leaves

Instructions

  • Trim Edge: Using tongs to hold the cactus leaf, lay it on a flat surface and trim off the entire perimeter of the leaf.
    Step 1 of how to cook nopales.
  • Remove Thorns: Turn your knife perpendicular to the cactus leaf and cut off each of the spikes and raised brown bumps, keeping as much of the cactus skin intact as possible.
    A knife is being used to remove spines from a green cactus pad on a light surface, an essential first step in learning how to cook nopales.
  • Rinse: Rinse the leaf well, ensuring there are no more spikes on it.
    Two fresh green cactus pads, also known as nopales, lie on a light-colored surface with visible drops of moisture on them, ready for your next recipe or to learn how to cook nopales perfectly.
  • Slice: Slice the cactus leaf into either strips or cubes.
    Step 4 of how to cook nopales.
  • Boil: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add cactus, cover, and let simmer until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
    A black pot filled with chopped green nopales (cactus paddles) pieces submerged in water, showing how to cook nopales before adding them to your favorite dishes.
  • Rinse: Strain the cactus from the water and rinse again to remove any sliminess.
    Step 6 of how to cook nopales.
  • Serve: From here you can serve the nopales, or saute them into a number of other dishes, like fajitas, tacos, or with eggs!
    Step 7 of how to cook nopales.

Notes

Storage: Cook these ahead and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days or so. This way, you can add some to any meal.
Meal Prep: Go ahead and cook, rinse, and dry these cooked nopales. Then freeze just like you would peppers and onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.8g | Protein: 1.6g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 1.3g | Calcium: 190mg | Iron: 1mg
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