The other green smoothie? Yes, this could be called the other green shake, juice or smoothie (except that it has been consumed for years way before the green smoothie craze started here in the states). This drink, made with Nopales and fruits like pineapple and orange juice, has been around for years in Mexico.
Nopal Cactus Juice
Healthy and Medicinal benefits have been exalted by doctors and regular human beings like us that swear by the advantages your whole body will obtain just by drinking this refreshing drink every morning. Some people will drink it to treat their diabetes, others for gastrointestinal illnesses. I just drink it to add more fiber to my diet once in a while when fresh nopales are available at my local Latin Market.
I have posted recipes using Nopales before, and some of its history and benefits can be found in these links:
How to cook Nopales, Grilled Nopales, Nopales Salad and Nopales with Chorizo.
And here, the easy to make a recipe for the Nopal Smoothie:
How to make Nopal Cactus Juice
Instructions:
- Chop the nopal in small pieces, making sure there aren’t any needles left on the skin. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- Chop the pineapple slice into cubes
- Place all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth, and… voilà!
NOPAL CACTUS JUICE
Ingredients
- 1 medium-sized fresh nopal pad needles removed
- 1 slice of fresh pineapple
- 1 cup of fresh orange juice or water
- A sprig of parsley and ice cubes optional
Instructions
- Chop the nopal into small pieces, making sure there aren’t any needles left on the skin.
- Chop the pineapple slice into cubes
- Place all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth, and… voilà!
Nutrition
See? I told you it was easy! Enjoy and make your own mixes and come back to let me know about them to try at home.
Provecho!
Mely Martinez,
Don’t forget to share on your social channels!
Gloria in CA
Oh my word Mely!! I started to read this and when I seen it said smoothie, I ran or hobbled as my knees allowed to with a knife and tongs and found my hubbers out there in the orchard watering. I said excitedly, "Eloy, Eloy, help me cut some nopales, my blogger friend Mely makes smoothies with them and I want to try it tomorrow." So we cut a few off and tomorrow I will try this. Thanks for the recipe, I'm looking forward to it. Raw nopales, right?
Mely
Gloria you have to come back and tell me if you tried the Nopal smoothie.
Saludos,
Mely
Nora
Mely, yo pongo todo a congelar, también le pongo espicacas o alfalfa y apio (las espinacas frescas) jugo de naranja o de piña y agua. Queda bien helado y qué rico y saludable.
Besos
Prieta
Ay,ay,ay! A mi que me encantan los nopales pero no me ánimo a tomar liquados de nopal. Mi mamá los ha preparado toda la vida pero nunca me hizo probarlos, no salen babosos? Sorry, Mily, I don't know about this…
nataliiiiiia
Me encanta este licuado, yo lo hago un poco diferente. Espero poner la receta pronto : ) Muchas felicidades por tu blog!
Mely
Eso es lo padre de el nopal verdad, que se puede mezclar con muchas cosas y no demerita el sabor de los otros ingredientes.
Saludos,
Mely
Karen
I've never heard of this – it sure sounds good and really refreshing.
flanandapplepie
Yum! Mely, este licuado se ve riquísimo. The next time I see nopales at the store, I'm definitely going to give it a try. Two in one…flavor and health 🙂
flanandapplepie
Yum! Mely, este licuado se ve riquísimo. The next time I see nopales at the store, I'm definitely going to give it a try. Two in one…flavor and health 🙂
Anonymous
esto se be muy saludable y riquisimo gracias x el tip
Mely
Que lo disfrutes!
Marcela Rosas
Hi Mely,
Does blending the nopal remove the gel (baba) consistency? I tried juicing nopales with a slow juicer and I just couldn't drink it. If you have any tips on removing the gel without cooking, please let me know! thanks!
Mely
Hello Marcela,
It doesn't look too gel-like when making the smoothie in the blender. Add fruits and enjoy.
Happy Cooking!
duane davis
If you add water it will thin the drink 🙂
Happy
Terry Alaniz
Add cucumber to the nopal and pineapple
Mely Martinez
Yes! Terry Alaniz, some people, not everybody, like to add cucumber.
Connie
Taste wonderful! Can you make in large batches and store in the fridge? Okay for a daily smoothie?
mmartinez
Hello Connie,
Maybe, you can freeze it for a few days. Pineapple tends to ferment, even when you store it in the the freezer.
Saludos!
Paty
Se puede usar nopales que vienen en un frasco? Dónde vivo no puedo conseguir frescos?
Gracias
mmartinez
Hola Paty,
Se que se pueden usar para hacer guisado, pero me imagino que ya algunas personas lo han tratado con esos nopales en salmuera. Si los pruebas y sabe bueno, nos avisas.
Liz
This jugo verde is crazy good! I always love the cleansing properties of this drink every year when I go to Mexico. It is SO easy to make because you don’t cook the nopales, use it raw. You can add fresh spinach to it or a chopped stalk of celery too, then blend. This is the best treat for my body I know. Thanks for posting it on your site. Salúd!
mmartinez
Hello Liz,
Glad to know you like the Nopal Juice, and yes you can add other ingredients like spinach.
R Easter
I love it! I’ve heard you should drink it only in ayunas, and take breaks from it. Someone said nine days max, and the jar I bought says 21 days max. Have you heard of it being bad for you or dangerous when taken for a long period of time? Just curious if I should limit my intake. But for the flavor and the way it has helped my cravings for sweets, I’d love to take it every morning.
mmartinez
Hello R Easter,
Many people drink it every day without any side bad side effects. But, they usually make the smoothie with fresh ran nopales.