Nopales

Store fresh nopales unwashed in the refrigerator, ideally wrapped in plastic wrap or in a sealed bag. If pre-cooked or jarred, follow package instructions.

To prepare fresh nopales, trim off any spines and dice them. Boiling them for 5-10 minutes (often with a bit of salt and onion) helps reduce their natural sliminess.

Rinse cooked nopales thoroughly under cold water after boiling to further remove any remaining slime.

Nopales can be grilled, sautéed, stewed, or added to salads and tacos.

Tomatoes

Onions

Cilantro

Chiles

Eggs

Cheese

Avocado

Not de-spining the cactus pads properly can be painful and dangerous.

Serving nopales without adequately reducing their natural sliminess can be off-putting for some diners.