Known as the "prickly pear" cactus in America, this cactus is cleaned of spines, diced and used in many Mexican dishes. The cactus leaf looks like a large green paddle with spines. The fruit of the cactus called tuna can also be eaten. The cactus is usually boiled or grilled. Cooked cactus can be added to soups, stews, scrambled with eggs or used as taco filling.
"young" leaves of the Prickly Pear Cactus
Leaves or pads of prickly pear cactus. Taste and texture resemble green beans. Used alone as a vegetable or in soups, salads, and omelets.
Cactus pads cooked and used like okra
Looking like the paddles used in ping-pong, these cactus paddles are delicious in stews. Be careful when you handle them, though. Those thorns can hurt.
These leaves of the prickly pear (nopal) cactus arefirm crunch pads. Let size be your guide in buying them; thesmaller the pad, the more likely it is to be tender. Use tweezersto remove spines, a sharp paring knife or vegetable peeler toremove their bases. With a flavor similar to green beans, NOPALESare eaten both raw and cooked.