Nopales and eggs (huevos con nopales) are one of the easiest ways to prepare Nopales (cactus paddles). Nutritious and tasty recipe ready in a matter of minutes. Make this healthy recipe with a few ingredients and serve it with your favorite salsa and warm tortillas.
Easy nopales and eggs
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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 nopales and eggs like this for breakfast, along with a warm and crusty bolillo and a side dish of beans (either out of the pot or refried beans).
You can add chopped tomato and chopped Serrano or Jalapeño peppers if you want. If you’ve never tried this dish before, don’t be afraid; the nopales’ flavors are a cross between green beans and okra, but with more incredible fiber content and other health benefits!
Enjoy
Frequently asked questions about nopales with eggs
What are nopales?
Nopales (cactus paddle) are the common name in Spanish for cacti pads. Nopales are well-known and used in Mexican cuisine to prepare salads, tacos, juices, tortillas, and other dishes.
What do you eat nopales with?
Nopales are very versatile and full of nutrients and can be prepared in many ways. Some examples are salads, mixed with some protein like nopales and eggs, grilled, or in a healthy juice.
How do you make nopales less slimy?
In Mexico, people have different techniques, like cooking them in a copper cauldron, using green tomatillos husks, or adding a tablespoon of baking soda to the water before cooking. To learn a quick and easy way to cook them with this recipe, how to cook nopales.
Are nopales cacti good for you?
Nopales have a lot of fiber and health benefits and are low in calories and fat. They are a great source of fiber, vitamins A and vitamin C, and minerals like calcium and iron.
How do you clean nopales?
First, place the cactus paddle on your cutting board and trim off the edge using a sharp knife.
Second, scrape the spines, thorns, or eyes, running your knife from back to front until completely clean.
Then, turn the cactus paddles and do the same on the other side. Lastly, repeat the same steps with the rest of the nopales.
How to make Nopales and Eggs (Nopales con Huevos)
Ingredients:
- Nopales chopped and cooked
- Large eggs
- Green onions, chopped
- Vegetable oil or olive oil
- Salt to taste
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,
What to Serve with Nopales and Eggs
Nopales con huevos can be enjoyed with a variety of tasty sides. Some popular options include refried beans, avocado, salsa, and corn tortillas. Consider adding some crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese for extra flavor. And if you're looking for a heartier meal, consider serving this dish with some chorizo or cook them with tomato, onion and jalapeño peppers. The possibilities are endless, so don't hesitate to get creative with your side dishes!
More Authentic Mexican Recipes
And in case you want to try other Mexican recipes made with nopales, you can check my other recipes:
Grilled Cactus Recipe, Nopal Smoothie, Cactus Salad with Pomegranate, Fava Bean and Cactus Soup.
If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment below and tell us all about it!
Mely,
For more recipes, follow Us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. in español Visit Us at Mexico en mi cocina
📖 Recipe
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
This recipe is straightforward, so there is no need for steps.
- 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:)