It is more common to serve cactus pad as part of a cold salad however, in this recipe, they are cooked first
then lightly fried. You can serve this warm salad with any meat or chicken dish or served all on its own.
Warm Cactus Pad Salad or Ensalada Caliente de Nopales - Easy Mexican Recipe For Mexican Food
- 6 medium cactus pads (cooked)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 small onion (sliced)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
TIP: To prepare the catcus, first cut off any thorns or black nodes all around the edges and sides of each pad. You should get a 'clean' looking pad. Chop the nopales accroding to the way you want them then cook them in a dry saucepan over low heat till sap has completely dried and they look cooked (about 6 to 8 mins).
Image of Cactus
How to Make Warm Cactus Pad Salad or Ensalada Caliente de Nopales:
- In a frying pan, heat the oil
- Saute onions and garlic till onion is translucent
- Add cooked cactus pads, cilantro and salt (to taste)
- Keep on frying till they start to brown around the edges (2 to 3 mins)
- Serve salad warm, garnished with the crumbled cheese
HINTS: This recipe will serve about 2.
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