Ensalada de Nopales

User Reviews

5

4 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Additional Time

    30 mins

  • Total Time

    50 mins

  • Servings

    6 servings

  • Calories

    140 kcal

  • Course

    Salad

  • Cuisine

    Mexican

Ensalada de Nopales

Ensalada de Nopales, or cactus salad, is an authentic Mexican side dish that features crisp nopales, tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and queso panela for a quick and refreshing recipe that pairs well with any Mexican meal.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 3 large nopales cactus paddles trimmed, cleaned, and diced
  • water as needed
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
  • 2 Roma tomato diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and diced
  • ½ medium onion diced, white
  • 4 tablespoons lime juice (about 2 limes)
  • ½ cup cilantro chopped
  • 10 ounces Queso Panela cut into small cubes

Instructions

  1. Add the diced cactus paddles, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and enough water to cover them completely in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
  2. Drain the water from the nopales and rinse them under warm water to remove any excess slimy liquid.
  3. Transfer the cooked nopales into a separate bowl. Add the Roma tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, lime juice, remaining 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, cilantro, and queso panela.
  4. Lightly toss to combine all the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to come together.
  5. Uncover and serve as a side dish or appetizer with tortilla chips.

Notes

  • Cheese: Panela cheese is the best. It’s a firm, mild-flavored Mexican cheese. If you can’t find it, you can use queso fresco or queso cotija instead.
  • Work smarter, not harder. Some Mexican grocery stores sell fresh nopales that have already been cleaned and prepped. I highly recommend grabbing those if you can! They’re a great time-saving option and save you the work of removing the spines and thorns.
  • Can’t find fresh nopales? Use jarred. You can find them in the Hispanic foods section of most large grocery stores. Just rinse them from their juice and toss them with the remaining ingredients.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1serving Calories 140kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 4g (1%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g (2%) Monounsaturated Fat 3g (15%) Cholesterol 36mg (12%) Sodium 971mg (40%) Potassium 119mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 1689IU (34%) Vitamin C 10mg (11%) Calcium 1062mg (106%) Iron 0.3mg (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 140 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 140kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 4g 1%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g 2%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 971mg 40%
Potassium 119mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 1689IU 34%
Vitamin C 10mg 11%
Calcium 1062mg 106%
Iron 0.3mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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4 reviews
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