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Nopal
Nopal
The Nopal, named for the plants pads in Nahuatl (nohpalli), is endemic to both Northern and Southern America. The most common variety of the nopal eaten is the Opuntia ficus-indica. Nopal is a cacti that thrives in desert regions and their dry environment. Nopal is believed to originate from Mexico, where it was nurtured to lose its spines in order to more easily eat its fruit. It was a staple plant in pre-Hispanic Mexico, being used for food and medicine. It also was used for art purposes, the Cochineal insect that live on the nopal emit a red dye when crushed. Cochineal were monopolized by early Spanish colonizers for its dye. As a food source, the nopal’s pads can be eaten raw or cooked, making a great ingredient for salads. The edible fruit that grows on Nopals are referred to as prickly pears in English and tunas in Spanish. During the Mission era in California, nopales were planted around the missions and were used to bind bricks for the construction of missions. Nopales also have medicinal benefits, for instance it is believed to be good for controlling diabetes and commonly used to treat skin burns. It is used as a traditional medicine due to it being an antioxidant and antiviral.
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Check out some our Nopal recipes!
Nopal Banana Smoothie
Directions:
1. Cut the nopal into small pieces
2. Use a blender to add the small nopal pieces
3. Add a banana already peeled into the blender
4. Add 1 1/2 cups of low-fat milk into the blender
5. Make sure the Banana and nopal are liquified
6. Ready to pour into a glass!
Nopal Salad
Directions:
1. Rinse the nopal in water before you cook
2. Cook nopal with salt and garlic
3. Slice the nopal once it has cooled
4. Dice the onions, tomatoes, chili serrano, cilantro, and avocado
5. Mix vegetables with nopal
6. Add dried oregano to the salad bowl
7. Spread fresh cheese or cacique
8. Option to eat with chips
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