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You are here: Home » Recipes » Vegetarian

How to Cook Nopales

Published: Jun 26, 2009 · Updated: Mar 20, 2019 by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

I wasn’t sure how to name this post… many ideas came to mind, like:“What to do with cactus pads”, “Some recipes using nopales”, etc., and the list could go on a few more lines, but I decided on just: “How to cook Nopales - cactus paddles” and I hope you find them easy to prepare.

Nopales - Cactus Paddles

Cactus paddles

The weather is getting warmer here and instead of the same old lettuce, tomato, etc., salad, I decided to make a nutritious Ensalada de nopales. We do not get the freshest nopales around here but, who’s complaining? You can see in the pictures that they look close to their expiration date, with dark spots here and there, but they were still crispy and that is what matters when you choose the nopales. (If they are soft and bendable, do not buy them).

how to cook Cactus paddles |How to clean nopales

Today I also have the recipes for Nopales Salad and Nopales with Eggs. Nopales with eggs!!?? What?? Am I out of my mind?? Well, that is exactly what I told my husband as a newlywed almost 30 years ago. (Yes, it has been that long but seems like yesterday… believe me!) Anyway...

The thought of eating scrambled eggs with nopales for breakfast and in a sandwich didn’t sound too interesting to me back then. But here I am now trying to convince my teenage son that they taste good… plus the added bonus of all the health benefits found in nopales that even Asian countries are cultivating them, while in México they are becoming extinct in some areas.

Now… Let’s go cook some nopales!!

cactus paddles nopales recipes

How to cook Nopales - Cactus Paddles

DIRECTIONS:

how to cook cactus paddles Nopales |How to clean nopales

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

  • Place the cactus paddle on your cutting board and, using a sharp knife, trim off the edge. Scrape the spines, thorns or eyes, running your knife from back to front until completely clean. Turn the cactus paddles and do the same on the other side. (Please check the ingredients list below)
  • Repeat the same steps with the rest of the cactus paddles. Finally, rinse the cactus paddles and take them back to your clean cutting board.
nopales cactus paddles recipes
  • Place a medium size pot with 4 quarts of water to boil.
  • Cut the cactus paddles into small strips.
  • Once the water is boiling add the cactus, onion, garlic, ½ teaspoon of salt and the tomatillo husk. Boil uncovered for about 8-10 minutes or until tender. The cactus will exude a sticky substance and most times will foam, so, pay special attention to this step to avoid the foam to spill over.
  • Once cooked, drain and rinse the cactus. Let them drain completely or pat them dry with paper towels. Now, your nopales are ready to be prepared into salads, scrambled eggs, as an addition to your Mexican stews, etc.
how to cook nopales

Note: Nopales also taste really good grilled and topped with melted cheese. Just make 3-4 small cuts to each nopal after you cleaned the spines; brush them with oil and grill them for about 3 minutes on each side.

Nopales salad recipe, cactus paddles

How to make Nopales Salad

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

DIRECTIONS:

Place the nopales in a large bowl; add the chopped tomato, onion, serrano peppers and cilantro. Mix the ingredients. In a separate bowl mix lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add this to the nopales mixture and stir. Top the salad with crumbled fresh cheese and avocado slices. (Radishes go well with this salad also). Eat with corn tortillas or tostadas.

NOPALES WITH EGGS FOR BREAKFAST

nopales recipesnopales con huevonopales con huevonopalescon huevo

DIRECTIONS:

Add the oil to a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped green onions and stir-fry for a minute. Add the nopales and cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Add the eggs and cook until tender, stirring as needed. Add salt to taste.

¡Buen provecho!
Mely,

More recipes using Nopales: Grilled Cactus Recipe, Nopales Smoothie, Nopales Recipe, Fava Bean and Cactus Soup.

Receta en Español Cómo cocinar nopales.

How To Cook Nopales (Cactus Paddles)

Mely Martínez
If you've never cooked nopales before, you're in for a treat. This dish is popular in Mexico and can be used in a variety of recipes. In this post, I'll show you the most common way to cook them and give you a few ideas for dishes that you can make with them. They are all super easy to make!
4.86 from 34 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Basic Recipes
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4
Calories 14 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 nopales cactus pads
  • 1 tomatillo husk to reduce the viscosity effect
  • ¼ white onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • ½ tsp. of salt

NOPALES SALAD

    SERVES 4

    • 6 nopales cactus pads chopped and cooked
    • 1 ½ cup chopped tomato
    • 2 serrano peppers finely chopped
    • ½ cup of chopped onion
    • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro chopped
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
    • ⅓ cup of olive oil
    • 1 avocado
    • ½ cup crumble fresh cheese
    • Corn tortillas or tostadas to serve

    NOPALES WITH EGGS FOR BREAKFAST

    • ⅔ cups of nopales chopped and cooked
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
    • 2 tbsp. of chopped green onions
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions
     

    VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Use kitchen tongs to hold the nopales or, better yet, wear gloves to protect your hands from the thorns. Once you are familiar working with cactus paddles then you can try to clean them without gloves.

    • Place the cactus paddle on your cutting board and, using a sharp knife, trim off the edge. Scrape the spines, thorns or eyes, running your knife from back to front until completely clean. Turn the cactus paddles and do the same on the other side.
    • Repeat the same steps with the rest of the cactus paddles. Finally, rinse the cactus paddles and take them back to your clean cutting board.
    • Place a medium size pot with 4 quarts of water to boil.
    • Cut the cactus paddles into small strips.
    • Once the water is boiling add the cactus, onion, garlic, ½ tsp. of salt and the tomatillo husk. Boil uncovered for about 8-10 minutes or until tender. The cactus will exude a sticky substance and most times will foam, so, pay special attention to this step to avoid the foam to spill over.
    • Once cooked, drain and rinse the cactus. Let them drain completely or pat them dry with paper towels. Now, your nopales are ready to be prepared into salads, scrambled eggs, as an addition to your Mexican stews, etc.

    NOPALES SALAD

    • Place the nopales in a large bowl; add the chopped tomato, onion, serrano peppers and cilantro. Mix the ingredients. In a separate bowl mix lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add this to the nopales mixture and stir. Top the salad with crumbled fresh cheese and avocado slices. (Radishes go well with this salad also). Eat with corn tortillas or tostadas.

    NOPALES WITH EGGS FOR BREAKFAST

    • Add the oil to a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped green onions and stir-fry for a minute. Add the nopales and cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Add the eggs and cook until tender, stirring as needed. Add salt to taste.

    Notes

    Nopales also taste really good grilled and topped with melted cheese. Just make 3-4 small cuts to each nopal after you cleaned the spines; brush them with oil and grill them for about 3 minutes on each side.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup cooked nopalesCalories: 14kcalCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 2gSugar: 1g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alba

      November 07, 2021 at 12:11 pm

      Looks great, but I have one question. What happens to the tomatillo husk? Are we supposed to fish it out like a bay leaf? Or leave it in? I'm wondering because I read somewhere that tomatillo husks were not edible.

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        November 08, 2021 at 1:58 pm

        Hello Alba,
        Yes, you discard the tomatillo husks.

        Reply
    2. Gail Tubbs

      July 03, 2021 at 9:08 am

      I am going to buy a cactus paddle @ the store. I will make sure it is fresh. I am doing an experiment for my Type 2 Diabetes. I do eat as well as I can, but my blood sugar has a hard time getting down. I just read about the testing done with these paddles and I am willing to give it a try. I would rather go the natural way than have to take another medicine.

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        July 03, 2021 at 2:43 pm

        Hello Gail,
        I hope you enjoy the green smoothie too. Many people like to drink it in the morning for the same

        Reply
    3. Dave

      February 26, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      5 stars
      Looking Forward to these recipes cactus all over my yard with the tuna

      Reply
    4. Dina

      May 01, 2020 at 11:10 am

      I love nopalitos my mom made them with eggs an added garlic an chili powder an im glad she influenced me to keep my tradition going its sad that my children generation only eat fast food.

      Reply
    5. Bertha Garcia

      April 22, 2020 at 12:31 am

      5 stars
      People in Ecuador do not know that Nopales are edible! Napolis do grow out in the country! I did cook us three times, but that was not enough! People in Ecuador would benefit so much if they learn to cook Nopales!

      Reply
      • Sharyn Johnson

        August 27, 2021 at 10:16 am

        Thank you Bertha, my husband is from Riobamba and has cousins with Diabetes who I'm going to tell to try and eat the Nopales. I've been cooking them and my numbers are down Asking my doctor if I can quit my Insulin or at least take less. thank you for your opinions. Sorry I'm years late seeing your note on here Sharyn Johnson

        Reply
    6. Elsie L. Mendiola

      April 03, 2020 at 10:56 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Mely! I never had Nopalitos in a salad, so I will give them a try. As for scrambled with egg,onion and tomato, that is the only way my parents made them, and I learned to love them that way! Very cool post, thanks!

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        April 04, 2020 at 10:01 am

        Hi Elsie,
        They are very popular as a salad or as a side dish, serve with rice and the main dish. Also, you can enjoy them as a topping for tostadas.

        Reply
    7. Marysela

      April 02, 2019 at 10:41 am

      Look forward to reading your recipes. Please can you please if possible would love to see some for tamales. Thanks

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        April 10, 2019 at 1:00 pm

        Hello Marysela,
        There are several recipes for tamales in the blog. Follow this link to see them all. TAMALES

        Reply
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    Mexico in my kitchen | Mely Martinez

    Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.

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