Cactus or Nopales Tacos

https://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/06/08/cactus-nopales-recipe-tacos/

Nopales Cactus Tacos

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

  • 1 cactus paddle
  • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 200g/7ozs. stuffed pepperdews
  • 10 small tortillas
  • Guacamole, garlic crema (recipe below), cherry tomatoes and coriander to serve

Garlic crema

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup cream
  • 1 small garlic clove, peeled and finely grated
  • Finely grated zest from 1/2 a lime
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • Salt and black pepper to season

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Slicing off the spines

Step 1 - Put on disposable gloves and using a sharp knife angled flat against the paddle, trim off the spines. Then trim around the edge of the paddle and cut into bite sized pieces.

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Trimming the edge from the paddle

Step 2 - Add some oil into a frying pan and saute the cactus pieces for 15 minutes or until the cactus turns a darker green and the slime dissipates. Add the onion and garlic and fry until sauteed. Remove from heat. Chop up the pepperdews and add these to the pan and mix.

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Step 3 - Spoon the filling onto the warmed tortillas and top with guacamole, crema, chopped cherry tomatoes and coriander.

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Cooking both ways - left boiling and right frying

Step 4 - To make the garlic crema, mix all ingredients together in a bowl and drizzle over the tortillas.

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The mucus being released while boiling the cactus


Did you make this?

© Lorraine Elliott