Eat Some Cactus!

Many have seen the old movies where a character is stranded in the desert and manages to survive because they cut open a cactus to drink the fluid. In fact, many are also eaten. It is a traditional ingredient in Mexico.

The nopal, or prickly pear cactus, is most frequently eaten. You may also hear them called cactus paddles, after the flat shape of the pads. The fruit is also edible. It is known as tuna in Mexico. Cactus has actually been eaten since pre-Columbian times by the Mayans, the Aztecs and many other peoples of Mesoamerica.

As with many other traditional Mexican foods, cactus can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruit of the cactus can taste sweet or sour. When sour, they are most often cooked. When sweet, they are eaten raw. It is high in vitamins A and C, B vitamins and iron. The leaves have a lemony flavor when eaten raw.

Needles can be scraped off with a knife. Most cacti that you find in the grocery store have already had them removed. Perhaps you have seen them displayed in the produce section. You may also find them if you have a Mexican market in your town, or you can do a search online for nopals and order them that way. If you live where cactus grows wild, you can harvest your own. Bring a big bag for your harvest and some heavy gloves to protect your fingers.

Choose tender young pads. Look for firm flesh without any soft, wilted spots. Peel the pad with a vegetable peeler or knife. Cut them up and add them raw to salads. You can also enjoy them grilled or boiled. When boiled, it tastes kind of like green beans. Grilled cacti can be served with grilled meat.

It contains a sticky fluid that can sometimes be extracted and used as a fiber supplement. It is said that a tiny pinch of baking soda added to the boiling water will help remove this substance from the cactus. Some old Mexican remedies recommend using a copper penny in the water. Whether any of them work is up to you… try them and see. When boiling it, it may be necessary to remove the old water and add fresh water for more boiling.

Add this traditional ingredient to your recipes for authentic taste. You can stuff the pads or serve them with chipotle sauce. Grilled it should be seasoned with salt, pepper and your favorite seasonings. They are done when the cactus is golden brown and tender.

You can add cooked cactus to salads, omelets, and soup. They may be eaten alone as a snack. For a tasty treat, try mixing them with grilled mushrooms, lime juice, and olive oil. One traditional recipe recommends boiling it, then cooking it in a salsa verde sauce with onions, chilies, garlic, and cilantro. Fold it all into a tortilla and enjoy.

Easy Mexican recipes with ground beef will help on those busy nights. Make some hot, delicious beef chalupas or some chile rellenos. Serve it up with a dish of cornbread on the side. Stuff a bell pepper or make beef flautas or make empanadas when you’re on the go.

Incoming search terms:

Share
"The Money Is In The List"

AWeber proves it to thousands of businesses every day.

Learn how email marketing software
can get you more sales, too.