This is one of the easiest ways to prepare Nopales (cactus paddles). For some reason, my mom never prepared nopales in this way; it was until I was married that I started to cook them like this, as my husband enjoys them like this for breakfast, along with a warm and crusty bolillo and a side dish of beans (either out of the pot or refried).
Easy Nopales and Eggs Recipe
If you want, you can also add chopped tomato and chopped Serrano or Jalapeño peppers. In case you’ve never tried this dish before, don’t be afraid; the nopales’ flavors are a cross between green beans and okra, but with a greater content of fiber and other health benefits!
Enjoy!
How to make Nopales and Eggs
DIRECTIONS:
- Add the oil to a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped green onions and stir-fry for a minute. (Please check the ingredients list below).
- Add the nopales, and cook for 1–2 minutes. Add the eggs and cook until tender, stirring as needed, add salt to taste. Serve with beans and warm corn tortillas.
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
More recipes using Nopales: Grilled Cactus Recipe, Nopal Smoothie, Cactus Salad with Pomegranate, Fava Bean and Cactus Soup.
Nopales and Eggs
Ingredients
- ⅔ cups nopales chopped and cooked
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. green onions, chopped
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Add the oil to a frying pan over medium heat. Once it is hot, add the chopped green onions and stir-fry for a minute.
- Stir in the nopales, and cook for 1–2 minutes. Add the eggs and cook until tender, stirring as needed. Add salt to taste. Serve with beans and warm corn tortillas.
Becca A
Eating Cactus has healing properties to lower blood sugar levels . They are tasty and healthy and high in fiber which also help you have bowel movements.
Esther
Thanks for the recipe, Mely. This is probably my most favorite breakfast of all time, but I never knew how to put it together. Twice a month we go to our favorite Mexican restaurant in Phoenix, & this is my go-to breakfast.
This is how much I love nopales: I just bought a nopal (plant? Cactus?), simply to have nopales whenever I want them. Crazy, huh?
mmartinez
Hola Esther,
I love Nopales a lot too. And really wish to buy a cactus plant. Enjoy yours! Happy cooking!
Nancy N.
My mom would also fry some onion and a piece of fresh jalapeno before adding the nopalitos to infuse the oil. Waking up to the smell of fried onions/jalapeno and eggs was amazing growing up.
Sometimes to add variety she would add a can of el pato when no time. Delicious. All you need is some refried beans and a chunk of queso fresco or panela and you were good to go.
mmartinez
Hello, Nancy
I also do that sometimes. I never heard about that canned salsa in Mexico, until I came to live in the States. It must be good.
Happy cooking!
Jess Contreras
It was definitely some of the best nopales I’ve had since my mom used to make them in 2000 in California. Here in New Mexico they are different kind of cuisine for enchiladas, menudo, etc.
William Seward
Thanks for posting this. I'd never tried it with the nopalitos pre-cooked. My ex used to make it but we'd cut the pads while small and tender, de-spine and cut up like you show, but toss them in with the onions to cook a bit before the eggs were added. Seemed to cook just fine. She was from the Texas Rio Grande Valley, though, so maybe it's a local thing. I've also used the spineless ornamental cactus. I got some from a friend and planted them here at the house. Taste about the same, but much less bother to clean. Still some spines actually, but not many. To me it always tasted a lot like green beans. In fact, I don't think we ever ate scrambled eggs without some vegetable added in, maybe frozen corn, peas, beans or the cactus. Central Texas, we have lots of cactus.
Unknown
you forgot the secret ingedient a pinch of camaron molido makes it taste just like grandmas
Maria Aguilar
Adding some fresh chopped Dill complements the flavor.
Teresa
Hi Mely! I always see these in the local Mexican store here in the Midwest and wondered what I could do with them. Thank you for the recipe. I'll let you know how it goes:)