This easy-to-make Raw Nopales Salad has become very popular in Mexico. Cactus Paddles are usually called “Nopales” or “Nopalitos” in Mexico, and we use them in salads, stews, soups, and even in drinks (you can also grill them). It's a healthy and nutritious source of fiber.

Easy Raw Nopales Salad- Authentic Mexican

This is an Authentic Mexican Dish that you can enjoy as a side dish for a Mexican stew, or as a meal by itself served on corn tostadas.

Can you eat raw Nopales?

From time to time, people ask me if you can eat raw nopales, or if you have to cook nopales first in order to consume them. The answer is no, you actually don’t need to cook them in every occasion. In Mexico, we use raw nopales for making green juices and smoothies, which happen to be very popular breakfast drinks due to the many health benefits of the nopal. One of the major benefits of nopales is that they help lower your glucose levels, making them a perfect food for those with diabetes.

Outside of their use in beverages, nopales are usually cooked, so eating raw nopales is a bit of an acquired taste. Nevertheless, if you’re like me, and love nopales, you’re going to really like this Raw Nopales Salad!

How do you cook raw nopales?

Generally, nopales can be cooked in a pot with water, or added to a skillet where you’re preparing a dish that will include nopales (see this recipe on how to cook nopales). For this recipe, though, we won’t be cooking the nopales. Instead, we’re going to cure them using salt. This is a technique that has become very popular in Mexico, and one that I learned from some of my chef friends from Mexico.

How to serve this Raw Nopales Salad

Serve this salad on corn tostadas, use as an extra topping for tacos, as a side dish for grilled meats, chicken, or fish. You can also offer it as an appetizer with tortilla chips to your guests while you finish grilling meats.

Check out the process below, I hope you try it, and don’t forget to let me know how you liked it!

Other recipes using nopales

How to make raw nopales salad

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DIRECTIONS:

Chop the nopales into small pieces, then place them in a medium-size bowl and stir in the salt.
Using your hands, gently squeeze and mix the nopales, making sure that all the nopalitos (pieces of nopales) are well covered with the salt. This step will release the viscous liquid from the nopales. You will start to see that it also forms some bubbles. Continue this process for 4-5 minutes, then set the bowl aside and let it rest for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, chop the tomato, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.

After the 20 minutes of resting, place the nopalitos in a strainer to drain all the liquid that they have released. Rinse under running water to remove the viscous liquid. Shake the strainer to make sure that you remove as much water as possible.

Place the drained nopales in a medium-size bowl, then stir in the chopped tomatoes, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.
In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, olive oil, black pepper, and oregano. Mix together, then drizzle the dressing over the nopales salad.
Top the raw nopales salad with the crumbled Queso Fresco and the avocado. Serve in small bowls and enjoy!

Notes:

One delicious addition to this salad, believe it or not, is diced mango. If you choose to use it, add it when you combine the vegetables.
You can also use crunchy pieces of Chicharrones to top the salad at serving time.

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