This easy-to-make Raw Nopales Salad (Ensalada de nopales) 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 Cactus salad has a great combination of flavors, is entirely healthy, and is an excellent source of vitamins.
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An Authentic Mexican dish you can enjoy as a side dish for a Mexican stew or as a meal by itself served on corn tostadas.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nopales
Before I share my Raw Nopales Salad recipe, here are a few questions I want to answer about this recipe.
Can you eat raw Nopales?
From time to time, people ask me if it's ok to eat raw nopales or if you have to cook nopales first to consume them. The answer is no, you don’t need to cook them every occasion. In Mexico, we use raw nopales for making green juices and smoothies, which are very popular breakfast drinks due to the many health benefits of the nopal. One of the significant 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 an acquired taste. Nevertheless, if you’re like me and love nopales, you will really like this Raw Nopales Salad!
What does nopales taste like?
The taste depends if the nopales are cooked or raw. Some people compare the texture to okra, asparagus, or green beans. In terms of flavor, they are slightly tart with a little bit of acidity.
How do you cook raw nopales?
Generally, nopales can be boil in a pot with water or added to a skillet when you’re preparing a dish that will include nopales (see this recipe on how to cook nopales). For this raw nopales salad, though, we won’t be cooking the nopales. Instead, we’re going to cure them using salt. This technique has become very popular in Mexico and is one that I learned from some of my chef friends from Mexico.
Are nopales cacti good for you?
Nopales have a lot of fiber and health benefits and are low in calories and fat. They are a great source of fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C, and minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium.
How to serve this raw nopales salad
Serve this salad on corn tostadas, and use it as an extra topping for tacos or a side dish for grilled protein 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!
How to make raw nopales salad
Ingredients:
- Large Nopales (spines removed)
- Tomato
- White onion chopped
- Serrano pepper
- Fresh cilantro sprigs chopped
- Lime
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Mexican oregano optional
- Queso Fresco crumbled
- Avocado diced or sliced
- Salt
Note: To learn how to clean and remove the thorns of the cactus paddles, check How to clean and cook nopales for the step-by-step process.
Directions:
To make things easier for you, I will break down the directions for this recipe into sections.
Prep de Nopales:
- Chop the nopales into small pieces, and place them in a medium-sized bowl, stirring 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 salt. This step will release the viscous liquid (baba) from the nopales.
Note: 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.
- After 20 minutes of resting, place the nopalitos in a strainer to drain all the liquid 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.
Chop the vegetables:
- Meanwhile, with a sharp knife chop the tomato, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.
- After 20 minutes of resting, place the nopalitos in a strainer to drain all the liquid 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-sized bowl, then stir in the chopped tomatoes, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.
Make the dressing and mix:
- 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 use it, add it when you combine the vegetables.
- You can also use crunchy pieces of Chicharrones to top the salad at serving time.
- Other garnishes for this healthy salad are prickly pear cactus (tuna) or feta cheese.
More Mexican Recipes To Enjoy
If you enjoyed this recipe for raw nopales salad, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:
HOW TO COOK NOPALES
NOPALES SOUP
GRILLED NOPALES
NOPALES SMOOTHIE
PORK IN CHILE COLORADO WITH NOPALES
NOPALES WITH CHORIZO
For more recipes, follow Us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. in español Visit Us at Mexico en mi cocina
Did you like the recipe? Please let me know in the comments section, do you have questions or share the link with your friends. I hope you have an incredible time cooking!
Provecho!
Mely Martínez
📖 Recipe
Raw Nopales Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Large Nopales spines removed. (About 2 cups once chopped)
- 2 tbsp. salt
- 1 large tomato ⅓ cup, diced
- ½ medium size white onion chopped (⅓ cup)
- 1 Serrano pepper 1½ tbsp.
- 2 Cilantro sprigs chopped (3 tbsp.)
- 1 lime
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- ⅓ teaspoon Mexican oregano optional
- ⅓ cup Queso Fresco crumbled
- ½ avocado diced or sliced
Instructions
Prep de Nopales:
- Chop the nopales into small pieces, and place them in a medium-sized bowl, stirring 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 salt. This step will release the viscous liquid (baba) from the nopales.
- Note: 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.
Chop the vegetables:
- Meanwhile, with a sharp knife chop the tomato, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.
- After 20 minutes of resting, place the nopalitos in a strainer to drain all the liquid 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-sized bowl, then stir in the chopped tomatoes, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.
Make the dressing and mix:
- 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 use it, add it when you combine the vegetables.
- You can also use crunchy pieces of Chicharrones to top the salad at serving time.
- Other garnishes for this healthy salad are prickly pear cactus (tuna) or feta cheese.
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Greg
This was amazing! I especially loved the mango in it, what a great idea. Too bad I can't make more of this at once and keep it around for 3 or 4 days, it seems to get a little slimy
Mely Martínez
Hello Greg,
Yes, it is something that you make to eat fresh the same day. Enjoy!
Lia
Se ven delicioso! They look amazing! Thanks for the recipe!
Mely Martínez
Hello Lia,
I hope you try this recipe for raw nopales salad pretty soon!
Carmen
My friend gave me fresh, already cleaned nopales, tomatoes, onion and cilantro--a mini kit--if you will. I used your method to boil them and then made this salad. I added some diced pineapple and it was delicious. Thank you so much. Enjoy reading your site.