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Nopales Asados a la Plancha

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Nopales and Diabetes: How does it help?

Grilled Cactus – Nopales Asados are a quick option for a meatless meal, top with a fresh Pico de gallo Salsa and your dinner is ready in minutes.
Studies have been done for years about the benefits of Nopales but must of them are published in Spanish. Still, there needs to be more done to have effective scientific evidence of its long-term effect.

Grilled Cactus-Nopales | Nopales Asados a la Plancha

Grilled Cactus


In México it’s a popular belief that if you drink a Nopal-fruit juice drink first thing in the morning you will lower your glucose levels. Of course, the industry has taken advantage of this alternative to sell powders, bottled drinks, and pills since the people have not to doubt about its benefits and that it actually works for them. Nopales are also rich in calcium and high in fiber.
grilled cactus - Nopales asados 4
This is a cooking blog, I know that, but from time to time I receive emails from people asking me about other ways to cook nopales because they are eating them for medicinal reasons to lower their glucose levels. Like the email, I received from Maria C., where she says that a lovely old lady told her to eat grilled nopales first thing in the morning when she was told by her doctor that she had diabetes type 2. That was 5 years ago and she is doing great now. Thank you, Maria, for sharing your story with me.

It is not my intention to entertain you with all the details about the medical benefits of this cactus plant, but If you would like to learn more about the Nopales and diabetes studies, here is a series of links to research made by several Universities and well renowned Medical Institutions. They are in Spanish, please use your online translator.
Universidad Nacional de México, Mexican Institute of Health, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Universidad de Querétaro, Hospital IMSS de la Raza.

If you have never eaten nopales before, try adding them to stews like any other vegetable, made them with scrambled eggs for breakfast, stuffed with cheese and then covered with an egg batter and fry, they have a mild flavor that you will get used to enjoying it. Like this simple recipe that can also be prepared when grilling outside with your barbecue grill along with your steak as we do in some states in México. One nopal will be just enough for one person.

How to make Nopales Asados a la Plancha

Instructions:
grilled cactus - Nopales asados 1


1. Warm your griddle or cast iron grill. Brush the oil on each side of the nopal.
Grilled Cactus - Nopales Asados 2
2. Place the nopalitos on your griddle and cook over medium heat turning until tender, about 8 minutes.
Grilled Cactus - Nopales asados
3. If using a cast iron grill cook until marked and tender. Just before serving top with the slice of cheese to melt. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve with a fresh salsa and warm tortillas. A healthy, low-calorie dinner or lunch.
Enjoy!
grilled cactus - nopales with cheese

GRILLED CACTUS NOPALES

Grilled Cactus - Nopales Asados are a quick option for a meatless meal, top with a fresh Pico de gallo Salsa and your dinner is ready in minutes. Studies have been done for years about the benefits of Nopales but must of them are published in Spanish. Still.
4 from 2 votes
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Course: Basic Recipes
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 2
Author: Mely Martínez - Mexico in my Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 2 medium size nopales needles removed
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 slices of you favorite melting cheese optional

Instructions

  • Warm your griddle or cast iron grill. Brush the oil on each side of the nopal.
  • Place the nopales on your griddle and cook over medium-heat turning until tender, about 8 minutes.
  • If using a cast iron grill cook until marked and tender. Just before serving top with the slice of cheese to melt. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve with a fresh salsa and warm tortillas. A healthy, low-calorie dinner or lunch.

    Have you made this recipe? Let me know on InstagramTag @mexicoinmykitchen and hashtag me #mexicoinmykitchen!
    Recipe in spanish https://www.mexicoenmicocina.com/nopales-asados-a-la-plancha/

    Other recipes with Nopales: How to cook Nopales, Nopales with Eggs, Cactus Salad, and Nopales with Chorizo.

    ¡Buen provecho!
    Mely,

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. NORMA RUIZ

      Me encantan los nopales son deliciosos, en casa siempre están presentes y ese smoothie que mencionas también lo he tomado es delicioso. Mely sobre lo que me preguntas en mi blog, el lavado de los moldes es muy fácil se lavan sin problema, pero aun no lo he probado con pan de levadura solo con galletas y no me dio problema. Besitos con cariño.

      Reply

    2. Gloria

      Hi Mely. Hope you are doing good. I love nopales and yes they are very good for you. Yours look delish. A smoothie I've never made out of nopales but you got me thinking about it. I am drinking green drinks right now but I'm not sure if I can do a nopal smoothie. Food for thought though. Nice to see you. Hope you had a wonderful holiday. Take care.

      Reply

    3. Prieta

      I love nopales Mely. This is actually a great post, with the epidemic of diabetics we are experiencing in the states, more then one person can benefit from the information you are sharing. Nopales are delicious food beside being good for you, they are easy to come along and they don't cost much. Your pictures look so tempting, yum!

      Reply

    4. Miz Helen

      Hi Mely,
      It is so good to see you today and what an interesting post. Your Grilled Cactus looks delicious, makes me want to try and find some so I can try the recipe. Hope you are having a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
      Come Back Soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply

    5. Carmen

      MELY, ME ENCANTAN LOS NOPALES. ESOS QUE HICISTE, CON OTRO NOPAL ARRIBA Y LUEGO CAPEADO LES DICEN POR ACÁ: INDITOS AL BALCÓN. SE OYE RE COTORRO PERO NO SE ME ANTOJAN CAPEADOS, A MÍ ME GUSTAN ASÍ COMO TÚ LOS HICISTE. INCLUSO SI LE EMBARRO FRIJOLIANOS.
      UN ABRAZOTE MELY, SE FELIZ Y YO A TRATAR DE HACERLO, PESE A LOS ACONTECIMIENTOS EN ESTE PAÍS.

      Reply

      • Mely

        Hola Carmen,

        Feliz fin de semana, y gracias por la idea de los inditos al balcon. Sabes yo hago mas o menos asi los chayotes, primero los pono a cocer enteros, luego les pongo el queso y despues capeados y se sirven con bañados en salsa de tomate. Eso si, no se como se llama ese platillo. :))

        Saludos,

        Mely

        Reply

    7. Nora

      Mely, qué buen reportaje. Los nopales son parte de mi despensa, nunca faltan en mi comida, Los hago en ensalada, guisados verdes, rojos, asados como los tuyos. Y en nuestras parrilladas los asamos al carbón, y como dices un nopal grande para cada uno, son tan sabrosos! Y el licuado, te dejo un enlace a mi blog, tal vez quieras enlazarme =)

      Reply

    8. Diana Bauman

      Mely, thanks for sharing this information. Diabetes run's in my fathers side of the family so I'll definitely be sharing this. Also, a nopales smoothie.. oh my, I'm definitely going to try it! Un abrazo fuerte!!!

      Reply

    9. Diana Bauman

      Mely, thanks for sharing this information. Diabetes run's in my fathers side of the family so I'll definitely be sharing this. Also, a nopales smoothie.. oh my, I'm definitely going to try it! Un abrazo fuerte!!!

      Reply

    11. Gabriela, clavo y canela

      Que bueno Mely! me encanta esa presentación. Yo no como nopales, pero mi marido si, en casa no faltan y así asados en el desayuno le encantan 🙂
      besitos
      Gaby

      Reply

    12. Nammi

      Hi Mely, sorry havent visited you for a while. This is one thing that I always wanted to try but still havent :(. very interesting recipe :), have a nice day

      Reply

    15. Pily

      No soymucho de nopales !!! pero………. así sí me los como Mely!!!
      un beso… en ésta semana o pronto te llamo !! 😀

      Reply

    16. Elizabeth Diaz

      Mely,

      That is exactly how we eat Nopales in my family. My parents are from Zacatecas y somos muy nopaleros! Have you tried raw Nopales picados in pico de gallo with lime juice drizzled on top? It's absolutely delicious and refreshing. I love making them cuando asamos carne! Yum!

      Lisa Diaz

      Reply

      • Mely

        Hello Angelina,

        If you do not have a Latin Store close to where you live, you can buy them online fresh. Look for Cactus Leaves.

        Reply

    18. Latricia Constantino

      Hi I am looking for recipes to make nopales for a side or along with a main dish. I love trying new things! I have only had them with pico and I would live to learn different ways of making them please! Thank you!

      Reply

    19. Gene Ware

      4 stars
      Really enjoy your posts and recipes. The few I’ve made have been delicious. Do you have tips for cooking nopales, especially whole paddles, to minimize the “goo”?

      Reply

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