Skip to content
FriendsPantry
Nopales (cactus paddles)

Vegetables · Stalks & shoots

Nopales (cactus paddles)

Flat green cactus paddles, de-spined and sliced (nopalitos), grilled or cooked into salads, eggs and stews.

Also called: nopal, cactus pads, cactus paddles, prickly pear pads, nopalitos

Around the world: nopales, nopalitos (es)

1 recipe with it

Photo: Eric Polk, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Nopales are the young, flat pads of the prickly pear cactus. Spines and the bumps they grow from are scraped off before use; many shops sell them cleaned or diced, and jarred nopalitos are common. They taste a little like green beans with a lemony edge and release a slippery juice similar to okra.

Opuntia species

How it’s used

  • Grilled whole
  • Ensalada de nopales with tomato, onion and coriander
  • Scrambled with eggs
  • Simmered in stews and salsas
  • Tacos

Characteristics

Taste
Tart, green and bean-like.
Texture
Crisp-tender, slightly slippery.
When cooked
Release mucilage when cut and boiled; grilling or rinsing after boiling reduces it.
Sold as
fresh, canned
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Suitable for grilling, Suitable for boiling
Common in
Mexican, Tex-Mex

Storage

Refrigerated. Refrigerate in a bag and use within a few days; cleaned pieces should be used quickly.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Handle uncleaned pads with gloves or tongs; tiny spines (glochids) lodge in skin.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
16 kcal
Protein
1.32 g
Carbohydrate
3.33 g
Fat
0.09 g
Fibre
2.2 g
Sugars
1.15 g

USDA FoodData Central: Nopales, raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Green beans — In salads and eggs; add lime for tartness.

Related ingredients

Recipes with nopales (cactus paddles)

More stalks & shoots