Choice and storage

In Mexico, younger, tender, and succulent cactus paddles are usually harvested throughout the spring season for native consumption and export to Europe and the USA. Recent nopales are generally discovered within the southern US states the place there are sizable Mexican communities, and canned nopalitos in brine are additionally obtainable in grocery shops.

For the freshest choices, go to farmer’s markets specializing in Mexican greens to buy recent, agency, pale inexperienced nopal pads. It is advisable to keep away from thick, mature pads as they are usually tough, pithy, and missing in taste.

As soon as introduced residence, uncooked pads may be saved within the fridge for roughly every week. Diced or lower pads must be used promptly for greatest outcomes.

Preparation and serving strategies

Nopales, whether or not recent or preserved, maintain a major place in conventional Mexican delicacies, notably throughout lean days.

To arrange, maintain the pad at its base and gently scrape off all of the spines and bristles on both facet utilizing a blunt knife. Rinse below chilly water and pat dry with a mushy material. Subsequent, utilizing a vegetable peeler, take away any extra pores and skin on the nodules. Lower into small cubes or uniform strips (referred to as nopaliots) in line with desire. Alternatively, pre-prepared diced nopales or nopales strips are available in shops.

The flavour of recent nopales presents a mix harking back to asparagus and french beans; along with having a chewy texture.

Listed here are some serving ideas:

Mexican nopales dish. Word cactus strips blended with scrambled egg. (Photograph: pointnshoot)

• Nopales may be loved uncooked in salads, referred to as Ensalada di nopales, or in salsa, known as Nopal de salsa, paired with onion, tomato, seasoned with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and dressed with olive oil.

• Recent nopal is a flexible ingredient utilized in soups, stews, juices, and as a cooked vegetable.

• Nopalitos may be fried into strips for a crispy deal with.

• Boiled, roasted, or grilled nopalitos make a scrumptious facet dish.

• Pickled nopal is a well-liked appetizer. Diced nopalitos, onion, and tomato sautéed with scrambled eggs are a favourite breakfast choice throughout the Lent season in Mexico.

• Industrially produced cactus pad (nopal) juice has been marketed as a wellness drink because of its perceived well being advantages. Nevertheless, scientific validation for such claims is at present missing.

Security profile

For hundreds of years, native Mexicans have integrated cactus paddles into their common weight-reduction plan safely. Allergic reactions to cactus are comparatively unusual; nonetheless, people with recognized cactus allergic reactions ought to chorus from consuming them altogether.

Farmers concerned in harvesting spiny cacti could encounter pricks, scratches, and bruises, thus it’s advisable for them to put on protecting gloves and apparel to attenuate dangers (Medical disclaimer).

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Additional studying:

1. Examine of Dietary Composition of Nopal (Opuntia ficus indica cv. Redonda) at Totally different Maturity Phases-pdf. (Hyperlink opens in new window).

2. USDA Nationwide Nutrient Database.