In the vibrant culinary landscape of Mexican cuisine, Ensalada de Nopales, a refreshing and healthful salad featuring tender cactus paddles, stands out as a delightful delicacy. This traditional dish, often served as a side or appetizer, boasts a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. The nopales, also known as prickly pear cactus, are carefully harvested and meticulously cleaned to remove their spines, revealing their crisp and slightly slimy texture. When combined with a medley of fresh, vibrant ingredients, such as juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and aromatic cilantro, the nopales create a vibrant and visually appealing ensemble. The tangy dressing, typically made with zesty lime juice, savory salt, and a hint of spice, elevates the salad to a new level of deliciousness. Whether you're a seasoned foodie or a novice cook, this Ensalada de Nopales recipe guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions and variations to create an unforgettable culinary experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ENSALADA DE NOPALITOS
-Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 15m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the cactus, tomatoes, onion and cilantro. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, lime juice, oregano and salt; shake well. Just before serving, drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with queso fresco.
Nutrition Facts :
ENSALADA DE NOPALES (CACTUS SALAD)
Steps:
- In a small bowl or jar whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, agave or honey, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
- Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the cactus, tomato, sliced onion, cilantro, queso fresco, and jalapeños if you're using any. Mix to combine all ingredients.
- Note: Do not mix in the avocado just yet as it will become all mushy when mixing the salad a few times. Leave it for the last step!
- Pour the desired amount of dressing over the salad and mix together.
- Add the cubed avocado and gently fold into the salad.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Sodium 800 mg, Sugar 10 g, Fiber 9 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Calories 360 kcal, SaturatedFat 8 g, Fat 23 g, Protein 16 g, Carbohydrate 23 g, UnsaturatedFat 12 g
ENSALADA DE NOPALES (CACTUS SALAD)
Nopal, or cactus leaf, is enjoyed all over Mexico in everything from salads to soups to salsa. Here, pre-cooked nopales help you get a head start on this colorful salad that's brimming with fresh tomatoes, onion, lime juice, cilantro, and spice. Serve it up as a topping or side with tacos and tostadas.
Provided by McCormick
Categories Appetizers,Dips and Spreads,Side Dishes,
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place all ingredients, except avocado and cheese, in a large bowl; toss until evenly mixed.
- Just before serving, add vegan cheese and avocado, if desired, stirring gently to mix. Garnish with additional cilantro leaves. Serve with tortilla chips.
- Test Kitchen Tip: Nopales are the tear-shaped leaves of the Opuntia or prickly pear cactus, harvested all year long in warm, dry regions of Mexico. The pads are harvested young and have a delicate, tart flavor and crisp yet slightly chewy texture. The juicy leaves are eaten both raw or cooked in a variety of Mexican dishes. Nopales are generally sold fresh in Mexico, but jarred nopalitos can be found in Latin markets, online retailers and in the Latin aisle of most supermarkets.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 73 Calories
ENSALADA DE NOPALES
Make and share this Ensalada De Nopales recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Salvador Vilchis
Categories Vegetable
Time 45m
Yield 750 g, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- wash, remove spines and dice the nopales.
- cook in pressure cooker with watter, salt and baking soda plus a stem of cilantro.
- once the cooker has acheived pressure, cook for an additional 5 minutes and wait to cool down.
- meanwhile, dice all remaining veggies.
- remove the nopales from the cooking water.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 90.8, Fat 7, SaturatedFat 1, Sodium 484.9, Carbohydrate 6.6, Fiber 3.1, Sugar 3, Protein 2
ENSALADA DE NOPALITOS (CACTUS SALAD) WITH VEGAN OPTION
This is a delicious recipe using nopales, which are the paddles of the prickly pear cactus. You can use fresh, cooked nopales if you wish, but we just used jarred cactus. We made this for a dinner party and it was a hit! Cooking time is time spent allowing the cactus to absorb the flavors of the other ingredients. There is no actual cooking involved, unless you decide to cook your own fresh cactus. To save time, chop the veggies while you're waiting for the nopales to marinate.
Provided by Annisette
Categories Vegetable
Time 45m
Yield 6-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Drain the nopalitos and place in a bowl. Cut them into smaller strips, if you prefer.
- Add the white onion, cilantro, Mexican oregano, and lime juice to the nopalitos. Stir well. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to mingle.
- While waiting, prepare the toppings.
- When the nopales mixture has sat for 30 minutes, spread the mixture in a 1.5 or 2 inch deep platter.
- Top with chopped tomatoes, cilantro, shredded cheese, onion, jalapeños, and avocado.
- Place the lettuce along the edges of the platter.
- Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 180.2, Fat 10.5, SaturatedFat 1.5, Sodium 52.3, Carbohydrate 21.4, Fiber 11.7, Sugar 7, Protein 5.8
Tips:
- To remove the spines from the nopales, use a sharp knife to cut off the edges of the cactus paddles, then use a vegetable peeler to remove the remaining spines.
- If you don't have fresh nopales, you can use canned nopales. Just be sure to rinse them well before using.
- To make the ensalada de nopales more flavorful, you can add other ingredients such as diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, or avocado.
- You can also add a dressing to the ensalada de nopales. A simple vinaigrette made with olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper is a good option.
- Ensalada de nopales is a versatile dish that can be served as a side dish, a main course, or even a snack.
Conclusion:
Ensalada de nopales is a healthy, refreshing, and delicious dish that is perfect for any occasion. With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, it is a great option for busy weeknights or special gatherings. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give ensalada de nopales a try.
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