Best 5 Nopal Cactus Salad Recipes
Discover the tantalizing flavors of the nopal cactus and transform it into an extraordinary salad. With its unique texture and slightly tangy taste, the nopal cactus adds a delightful dimension to this refreshing dish. Dive into a journey of culinary exploration as we uncover the secrets to crafting an unforgettable nopal cactus salad, with a perfect balance of flavors and textures that will captivate your taste buds.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CACTUS SALAD
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Pour canned or jarred nopales into a strainer to drain. Rinse under running water until jar liquid is washed off. Leave nopales in long strips or chop into pieces about the same size as the tomato and onions.
- In a large glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bowl, toss together tomato, onion, nopales, and cilantro.
- Place olive oil, lime juice, oregano, and salt into a small jar with lid on. Shake vigorously until mixture comes together. Pour dressing over salad and toss again, gently but thoroughly.
- Cover bowl and refrigerate salad for at least an hour and up to 24 hours for flavors to meld. To serve, garnish with cheese, onion, and avocado.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 371 kcal, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 21 mg, Fiber 11 g, Protein 11 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sodium 418 mg, Sugar 8 g, Fat 29 g, ServingSize 4 portions (4 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
CACTUS SALAD WITH AVOCADO DRESSING- NOPALES
This makes a nice side for traditional Mexican dishes. It is much different than the usual nopales salad because it takes on the flavor of the avocado. I even ate this for breakfast with a tostada shell! You can prepare the nopales ahead but don't make the dressing too far in advanced because it may discolor. I also kept it healthier by leaving out the chicharron. From Fresh Mexico by By Marcella Valladolid.
Provided by cookiedog
Categories Vegetable
Time 27m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Combine the onion, garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups water in a large heavy saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the cactus and boil for 7 minutes, or until tender and no longer bright green. Strain the cactus and discard the onion and garlic. Cool completely. (The cactus can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.).
- Put the avocado, cilantro leaves, olive oil, serrano chile, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons water in a blender. Blend until very smooth (the dressing will be thick). Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Transfer the cactus to a large bowl and add the tomatoes, queso fresco, scallions, and chopped cilantro. Toss to combine. Add enough dressing to coat, and toss gently. Divide the salad among 4 plates, and top each serving with chicharones if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 211.8, Fat 17.8, SaturatedFat 2.5, Sodium 43.1, Carbohydrate 13, Fiber 8, Sugar 3.4, Protein 3.9
SHRIMP AND NOPAL CACTUS SALAD
Provided by Terry Conlan
Categories Salad Garlic Onion Tomato Appetizer Feta Shrimp Radish Summer Chill Healthy Cilantro Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Makes 16 (1-cup) servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Pare the spines from the cactus; trim the base and around the edge. Dice into 3/4 x 1/4-inch pieces. Blanch in boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Drain and rinse thoroughly. Combine with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours or until cold. Serve cold with baked corn tortillas.
SOUTHWESTERN CACTUS SALAD
A delicious spicy salad, made from tender cactus, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lemons. This is hot and spicy, so beware!
Provided by Lupe Burke
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a medium size mixing bowl, combine cactus, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and cilantro. Squeeze the juice from both lemons over the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with garlic salt (if you'd like) and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 30 calories, Carbohydrate 8.2 g, Fat 0.3 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 1.7 g, Sodium 130.6 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
ENSALADA DE NOPALES Y CAMARONES - CACTUS AND SHRIMP SALAD
Cactus is a common and tasty food item in Mexico and parts of SW USA. Cactus, or NOPALES as they are known in Texas and Mexico, can be found fresh and needle free in the produce section. You can even find jars of Nopales or Nopalitos (little (pieces of) Nopales) in the ethnic aisle of your grocery store. If you choose to use those please drain them and rinse them well. Green Beans or chayote can be substituted if cactus is not available. The nutritional info here is not correct as the olive oil is used for coating the items you are grilling and in the dressing. Not all of it is consumed. This recipe is from La Comida Del Barrio (meaning Foods from the neighborhood) Latin American Cooking in the U.S., by Aaron Sanchez (Clarkson Potter, 2003) This dish would be wonderful with any Mexican cerveza (beer) or with a crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blanc.
Provided by Mamas Kitchen Hope
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Seed and dice tomatoes. Chop onion and cilantro. Finely dice the jalapeno and mix all together in a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, combine the garlic and half of the extra virgin olive oil. Brush the nopales with the garlic oil to coat using a basting brush, season both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Reserve the leftover garlic oil.
- Place the cactus on a preheated a grill or grill pan over a medium-high flame and cook until limp, about 4 minutes on each side. Remove and allow to cool, then cut the pads into ¼-inch thick strips. Add to the tomato mixture.
- Brush the shrimp with the reserved garlic oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 3 minutes on each side, until firm and pink and add to the tomato-nopales mixture.
- Add the vinegar, tequila and remaining olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve in a lettuce leaf or corn tortilla.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 326.9, Fat 28.2, SaturatedFat 4, Cholesterol 86.4, Sodium 91.1, Carbohydrate 6.2, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 3.2, Protein 12.6
Tips:
- Choose tender and spineless nopales for a better texture. - Wash the nopales thoroughly to remove any dirt or spines. - Cut the nopales into thin strips for easier eating. - Use a sharp knife to avoid tearing the nopales. - To reduce the sliminess of nopales, soak them in water for 30 minutes before cooking. - Add salt to the water when boiling nopales to help remove the bitterness. - Experiment with different dressing recipes to find one that suits your taste. - Serve nopal cactus salad as a side dish or as a main course.Conclusion:
Nopal cactus salad is a delicious and nutritious dish that is easy to make. It is a great way to add more vegetables to your diet and enjoy the unique flavor of nopales. With its versatility, nopal cactus salad can be enjoyed in many different ways, from a refreshing salad to a hearty main course. So next time you are looking for a healthy and tasty meal, give nopal cactus salad a try. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it!
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