Nopalito Salsa Recipes

CACTUS SALSA

Steps:

• Clean and dice the cactus. Add the raw nopales and cover with water. Cook with a tablespoon of sea salt for 10-15 minutes covered. When ready remove the water and rinse several times with iced or cold until slime disappears.
• Chop all ingredients and mix together with the cooked cactus. Season with sea salt, lime juice, and cumin.
• Use the cactus salsa as an appetizer with corn chips or as a garnish for salads, tacos, sopes, or tostadas.

CACTUS SALAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Pour canned or jarred nopales into a strainer to drain. Rinse under running water until jar liquid is washed off. Leave nopales in long strips or chop into pieces about the same size as the tomato and onions.
• In a large glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bowl, toss together tomato, onion, nopales, and cilantro.
• Place olive oil, lime juice, oregano, and salt into a small jar with lid on. Shake vigorously until mixture comes together. Pour dressing over salad and toss again, gently but thoroughly.
• Cover bowl and refrigerate salad for at least an hour and up to 24 hours for flavors to meld. To serve, garnish with cheese, onion, and avocado.

CACTUS SALSA (NOPALITOS)

Steps:

• Rinse cactus very well and drain. This is an important step, otherwise cactus is slimy. OR Boil fresh cactus slices in water for 5 minutes. Simmer in reduced heat water for 10-15 minutes until cactus is semi-tender. Rinse well and drain. Dice cactus strips. In a medium size-mixing bowl, combine cactus, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and cilantro. Squeeze the juice from both lemons over the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour for flavors to meld. Fold in shredded cheese and serve.
• Makes 4 1-cup servings
• Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips or eat as is with a spoon!
• It’s also great on steak or chicken tacos, and with scrambled eggs.
• Note: I buy fresh cactus at my Farmer’s Market, and they also carry it in the fresh produce section of my Target.

BEST RESTAURANT SALSA RECIPE FROM NOPALITO

Steps:

• Make the salsa de árbol: In a small pot, heat the oil over high heat, then add the chiles; let cook, continuously tossing the chiles so that they do not burn, about 10 seconds. When they turn bright orange, they are done. Immediately remove from the oil.
• Add three-quarters of the chiles to a blender and reserve the rest. Add the tomatoes, tomatillo, vinegar, garlic, salt, and 2 tablespoons water and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning, or blend in more of the remaining chiles, to taste.
• Pour the blended salsa into a small pot, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Serve warm or cool.
• Be sure your salsa de árbol is prepared in advance and is still hot, or reheat on the stove. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Spread the chips on a baking sheet and bake until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the chips from the oven to a large mixing bowl. Add the salsa and toss the chips with the hot salsa until they are completely covered. Transfer to a serving plate, then garnish the chips with the cheese, onion, and cilantro. Serve with the crema and lime wedges.

NOPALITO SALSA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

CACTUS SALSA (SALSA DE NOPALITOS)

Steps:

• Drain and rinse nopalitos in a colander.
• Chop nopalitos in 1/2 inch pieces.
• Chop cabbage, onion, tomatoes, jalapenos and cilantro.
• Mix everything in a large serving bowl.
• Squeeze lemons and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.