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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.
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
Ingredients
- 3 large nopales cactus paddles, trimmed, cleaned, and diced
- water, as needed
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
- ½ medium white onion, diced
- 4 tablespoons lime juice (about 2 limes)
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- 10 ounces queso panela, cut into small cubes
Instructions
- 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.
- Drain the water from the nopales and rinse them under warm water to remove any excess slimy liquid.
- 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.
- Lightly toss to combine all the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to come together.
- Uncover and serve as a side dish or appetizer with tortilla chips.
Cup of Yum
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
Serving
1serving
Calories
140kcal
(7%)
Carbohydrates
4g
(1%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
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
% 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.