Nopalitos Rancheros Recipes

WARM NOPALITOS WITH SAUTEED CORN AND GUAJILLO

Steps:

• Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy skillet (that has a lid) over medium-high heat. Add the diced nopales, sprinkle the salt and stir for a minute or two. Place the lid on, reduce the heat to medium and let the nopales cook and sweat for about 20 minutes, stirring once or twice. They will have exuded a gelatinous liquid that will begin to dry out. Take off the lid, stir and make sure most of the liquid has dried up; if it hasn't, let them cook for a couple more minutes until it does.
• Pour in the third tablespoon of oil, mix with the nopales and incorporate the garlic, chopped onion, guajillo chiles and corn. Mix well and let it cook for about 3 to 4 minutes. Squeeze in a tablespoon of fresh lime juice, mix and place the lid back on. Let the nopales cook for another 3 to 4 minutes and turn off the heat. Taste for salt and add more if need be.
• If you have any leftovers, they make a wonderful filling for quesadillas.

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

Steps:

• For the ranchero sauce: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F and put the tomatoes, garlic cloves and onion on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast the vegetables, turning occasionally, until blistered and charred in spots, about 35 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove the papery skins from the garlic.
• Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the ancho chiles, cover, and remove from the heat. Let sit for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
• Put the vegetables and any juices from the baking sheet into a blender. Add the ancho chiles, 1/2 teaspoon each chopped chipotle and adobo sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt and blend until fairly smooth. Taste; if you want the sauce spicier, stir in the remaining chopped chipotle and adobo sauce.
• Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the sauce (it will sizzle) and 1/3 cup water and cook, stirring, until thickened but pourable, about 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt as necessary. Cover and keep warm over low heat. If the sauce thickens too much, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to thin it out.
• For the refried beans: Put the beans in a medium bowl with about half of their reserved liquid and mash with a potato masher until smooth. Heat the vegetable oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering, then add the mashed beans and a big pinch of salt and mash again until smooth. Cook, stirring and scraping with a rubber spatula, until heated through. If the beans seem dry, add some more of the reserved liquid until they are creamy. Taste, season with salt if necessary and cover and keep warm over low heat.
• For serving: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and line a baking sheet with paper towels. Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 tortilla and cook until the underside blisters, about 15 seconds. Flip the tortilla with tongs and continue to cook until the underside blisters, about 15 seconds. Remove from the pan to the lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 7 tortillas, adding more oil if necessary. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the refried beans on each tortilla and keep warm in the oven.
• Using the same skillet the tortillas were fried in, heat 1 tablespoon oil until shimmering, about 1 minute. Crack 4 eggs into the skillet and cook until the edges are crispy and whites are almost set. Cover the skillet with a big pot lid and cook until the whites are completely set, 1 more minute. Remove the tortillas from the oven, top four with an egg, then return to the oven and repeat with the 4 remaining eggs.
• Top the remaining tortillas with the remaining eggs. Sprinkle each with a pinch of salt, some ranchero sauce, Cotija cheese, cilantro and onion. Serve immediately.

NOPALITOS RANCHEROS

Steps:

• In a saute pan heat the butter and saute the onions. Add the cactus pads and cook for 3 minutes. Add eggs and mix together. Then add your favorite salsa and Cheddar.

FRITTATA RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Put the chile in a small dish with 1/4 cup water; microwave until softened, 45 to 60 seconds. Pour into a blender with the tomato sauce, 1/4 cup pico de gallo, half of the cilantro and a pinch each of salt and pepper; blend until smooth.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a medium ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour off some of the excess liquid from the remaining 1/4 cup pico de gallo, then add the pico de gallo to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the eggs, then reduce the heat to medium low. Scrape down the eggs from the sides of the pan. Sprinkle about 1 cup tortilla strips over the eggs, drizzle with 2/3 cup of the pureed sauce and sprinkle with the cheese. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the eggs are just set, 9 to 10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the beans with the lime juice and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Chop the remaining cilantro and add to the beans.
• Slide the frittata onto a cutting board and cut into wedges; divide among plates. Spoon more of the pureed sauce on top along with the sour cream and remaining tortilla strips. Serve with the black beans and any remaining sauce.