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Tacos de Nopales served
Vegetarian Mexican tacos made from fresh cactus paddles

Cactus paddle tacos (Nopales)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Main Courses
Nopales, the prickly pear cactus paddle, is Mexico's green gold. Its taste lies somewhere between green bean and asparagus, and its texture, when properly prepared, is crisp yet tender. The raw cactus contains a mucilaginous substance (similar to okra), which must be removed by boiling or frying to achieve an enjoyable texture. This dish dates back to Aztec times and is a true superfood.
🕒 Prep Time 20 mins
🍳 Cook Time 20 mins
⌛ Total Time 40 mins
🍽️ Servings 5 servings
🔥 Calories 280 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Mexican

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Knife (preferably sharp for removing spines)
  • Pot for boiling
  • Colander
  • Frying pan

Instructions

1 ✓

If using fresh cactus: lay on a chopping board and carefully slice off the spines and hard edges with a knife. Wash, then cut into 1 cm strips or cubes.

Tip: Watch out for the invisible, tiny spines! Use rubber gloves or hold with several layers of kitchen paper.
2 ✓

Boil the cactus in salted water for approx. 10-15 minutes until the colour turns olive green and it softens. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold running water until the slimy layer disappears.

Tip: Cold water shocking and washing physically removes the pectin-like viscous substances.
3 ✓

Meanwhile, chop the onion, garlic, tomatoes, and chilli.

4 ✓

Heat oil in a pan. Sauté the onion and garlic, then add the tomato and chilli.

5 ✓

Stir in the prepared (or tinned) cactus. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and fry together for 5-6 minutes until flavours meld.

Tip: The earthy taste of oregano goes remarkably well with the green aroma of the cactus.
6 ✓

Warm the tortillas, fill with the cactus ragout, sprinkle with coriander, and drizzle with lime.

Recipe FAQ

Where can I get nopales?
In the UK, it is mostly available in tinned form in specialist shops or Mexican grocers. If using tinned, just rinse it; you can skip the boiling.
What do I do about the slime?
Thorough rinsing with cold water after boiling is key. Many also put an onion skin in the cooking water, which helps bind the mucilage.

Ingredients

  • 500 g Fresh cactus paddles (nopales) or rinsed tinned
  • 1 head Red onion
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 2 pcs Tomatoes
  • 1 pc Red chilli pepper
  • 1 bunch Fresh coriander
  • 2 pcs Limes
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tsp Dried oregano
  • 10 pcs Corn tortillas