Cactus Pads or Nopales

Appears in
Professional Cooking
Professional Cooking

By Wayne Gisslen

Published 2014

  • About
  • Identification: Nopales are tender pads of the prickly pear cactus. When cooked, their texture is slippery, like that of okra, and their flavor slightly resembles cooked green pepper or possibly green beans with a slight sourness.
  • Evaluation: Try to purchase pads with the spines removed. Look for full, firm, crisp pads, not wilted or soft ones.
  • Preparation: If spines are present, wear rubber gloves and brush them vigorously under running water, then with a vegetable peeler remove the eyes that held the spines. Trim the base if necessary. Cut as desired. Can be sautéed, boiled, steamed, or grilled.
  • Percentage Yield: 90%