Ensalada de Nopales (Mexican Cactus Paddle Salad)
Local name: Ensalada de nopales
In short: Tender diced cactus paddles tossed with tomato, onion, cilantro, jalapeño and lime. A tangy, fresh salad that is light and full of fiber. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 100 kcal
Nopales are the paddles of the prickly pear cactus, and Mexicans eat them as a vegetable in salads, eggs, tacos and soups. Their flavor is green and tart, like green beans with a hint of lemon, and the texture is tender with a little natural slipperiness that cooking reduces. This simple salad mixes diced cooked paddles with tomato, onion, chile, cilantro and lime juice. Serve it as a side with grilled meat, in tacos or on a crisp tostada.
Instructions
- If you buy whole paddles, scrape off the spines with a knife, trim the edges and rinse. Then cut them into 1 cm (1/2 in) dice. Cleaned paddles from a Latin grocery need only a rinse.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil with the onion quarter, garlic and 1 tsp salt. Add the diced cactus.
- Simmer, uncovered, for 10 to 12 minutes until tender and dull olive green. The cooking liquid will turn slippery.
- Drain the cactus in a colander and rinse well under cold running water until the slippery coating is gone. Drain thoroughly.
- Toss the cactus with the tomatoes, chopped onion, chile and cilantro in a bowl.
- Add the lime juice, olive oil, oregano and 1/2 tsp salt and mix. Let the salad rest for 10 minutes, then fold in the avocado and serve cold or at room temperature.
Tips
- Jarred or canned nopales work in a pinch. Drain and rinse them very well, skip the boiling, and taste before adding extra salt.
- Grilling the paddles whole over a hot fire, then dicing, gives the salad a smoky flavor and reduces the slipperiness.
Questions and answers
How do I get rid of the slime in nopales?
Simmer the diced paddles uncovered in salted water and rinse them well under cold water. Grilling the paddles whole before dicing also helps a lot.
Where can I buy nopales?
Latin grocery stores and many large supermarkets sell fresh paddles, often already cleaned and diced. Jarred nopales are available worldwide.
How long does nopales salad keep?
Up to 2 days in the fridge in a covered container. Add the avocado only just before serving so it does not brown.
How long does it take to make Ensalada de Nopales (Mexican Cactus Paddle Salad)?
About 35 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ensalada de Nopales (Mexican Cactus Paddle Salad)?
About 100 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 10 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 100 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
