The Ultimate Guide to Nopales: Choosing, Cleaning, and Cooking
Welcome, amigos! Are you wondering how to cook nopales? do you peel or clean nopales? what do you do with the spikes or thorns? I am a Mexican mom, and I totally LOVE nopales! I usually have nopales salad at home to accompany our meals, so you can find me cooking nopales almost every week and today I will give you my secret to cook nopales without the slimy liquid!
What is Nopale
Nopales, also known as nopalitos or cactus paddles, are the flat, oval-shaped pads of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia). They are a staple in Mexican cuisine and are known for their slightly tart flavor and crisp texture. Nopales are often used in dishes such as salads, soups, tacos, and scrambled eggs. They are also valued for their nutritional benefits, as they are low in calories and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, nopales have been studied for their potential health benefits, including their ability to help regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion. Overall, nopales are a versatile and nutritious ingredient that adds a unique flair to many dishes… and by the way, they only have 15 calories per cup!
Choosing the Perfect Nopal Paddle
You can find nopales in most Mexican supermarkets here in the U.S. When selecting nopales, remember that bigger isn’t always better. Opt for younger paddles (the small ones), which are softer and more flavorful. Look for paddles that are firm, with a vibrant green color—that’s a sign of freshness and quality.
Nowadays, it is also easy to find already cleaned and chopped nopales at Mexican supermarkets; look for the vegetable section; they are usually packed in bags.
Cleaning Nopales Like a Pro
Cleaning nopales may seem daunting due to their spines, but sin miedo! With a simple technique, you’ll have them ready in no time.
- Lay the paddles on a cutting board, and using a knife, carefully remove the spines and black bumps by running the knife back and forth across the paddle. Be careful because you can easily prick your fingers. Some people prefer to use gloves to protect themselves from the thorns.
- Then, trim off the edges and ends.
- Rinse the nopales under water to ensure they’re clean and spines-free.
- Dice the nopales into strips and squares to make stews or salad, or save the clean paddles to grill them!
The Nopal paddle does not need to be peeled; it is just removing the thorns and the edges of the paddle, as they usually have spikes.
Cooking Nopales: No Slime por favor!
This is the secret to cooking nopales without slime. To cook them to perfection, follow these simple steps:
- Place diced nopales in a pot without adding any extra water. The nopales will drop the slime and cook in their juice. You do not need water to cook nopales with this authentic Mexcian recipe.
- Add a quarter of an onion, a garlic clove, and a dash of salt for added flavor.
- Cover the pot and simmer over medium low heat for approximately 25 minutes, until the nopales take on an inviting olive green hue and become tender inside and out.
- Once cooked, rinse the nopales under cold water to halt the cooking process and eliminate residual slime.
With these tips, you’ll enjoy perfectly cooked nopales in no time!”
Enjoying Your Perfect Nopales
Now that your nopales are cooked to perfection, it’s time to enjoy them! Whether you remember your mamá or abuelita’s recipes or try them for the first time, nopales are a versatile ingredient used in Mexican casseroles, nopales green smoothies, and so much more. Sign up for my email list to get new recipes!
Here are some recipes with nopales that you will love:
Authentic Mexican Nopales Salad
Nopales Green Smoothie
