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
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.
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:
1. Warm your griddle or cast iron grill. Brush the oil on each side of the nopal.
2. Place the nopalitos on your griddle and cook over medium heat turning until tender, about 8 minutes.
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
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.
Other recipes with Nopales: How to cook Nopales, Nopales with Eggs, Cactus Salad, and Nopales with Chorizo.
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
If you like our recipes follow us on Instagram @mexicoinmykitchen
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.
Gracias Norma por pasar a contestarme, lo voy a probar y lueog te platico.
Saludos,
Mely
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.
Hi Gloria,
Just give it a try, it is tasty and refreshing.
Glad to hear from you.
Mely
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!
You are right Prieta, Nopales are really affordable.
Have a great week!
Mely
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
Thank you Miz Hellen,
I for sure will be back.
Mely
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.
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
Mmm, that looks so good!
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 =)
Gracias por el enlace Nora,
Saludos,
Mely
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!!!
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!!!
Hola Diana,
Enjoy your little ones.
Mely
I never knew that about nopales, that is wild.
Hello Chris,
Yes, it is a wild thing!
Regards,
Mely
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
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
interesting Indian folks have a vegetable called kerala and they also say it lowers blood sugar
Hello Rebecca,
I would to know more about it. I hope you blog about soon.
Mely
Mmmmmpero qué delicia, me has antojado Mely!
Hola MyCookingTime,
Cone ste aclor se antojan, verdad?
Saludos,
Mely
No soymucho de nopales !!! pero………. así sí me los como Mely!!!
un beso… en ésta semana o pronto te llamo !! 😀
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
Hello Elizabeth,
I heard about the raw nopales pico de gallo. I will have to try it.
Thanks for the tip.
Mely
Mely,
Can you tell me where to get these?
~Angelina 🙂
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.
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!
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”?
Hello Gene,
Please check the following link in how to cook Nopales. http://bit.ly/2YiY48y