Nopalitos con Chimichurri

Nopalitos is what we call cooked Nopales.  I love nopalitos because they are easy to cook and can normally be purchased from a Mexican Market in the vegetable section packaged and ready to cook .

If you have a Nopal plant growing in your yard you want to harvest the small planks for eating, they are tender and delicious.  The plank pictured here needs to double in size before you harvest.

When you harvest you must take care not to splinter yourself with the cactus spines.  These spines must be removed before the cactus plank is diced.

You can use a potato peeler or a paring knife to remove the spines.

Once you have cleaned the planks from all spines, dice into small bite size pieces.



COOKING

For 1-cup of nopales boil two cups of unsalted water.
When the water is boiling add nopales.
You will notice the nopales will change from a bright green color to a DULL green color.
Once the Nopal has changed to a dull green color boil for 2-additional minutes.
Remove pot from heat and strain nopal water into a second container.
Place cooked nopalitos in a stainless steel container and add 1-cup of Chimichurri salsa
Taste and add seasoning's if necessary.  (Salt and Cumin)

Your Nopalitos can now be served as a side dish or as a dip for tortilla chips.

Chimichurri Salsa

Chimichurri Salsa 

1/3  cup finely chopped fresh basil
3/4  cup finely chopped Roma tomato

1/3  cup finely chopped cilantro

2     tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano

1/4  cup white onion or red onion diced

1     large minced garlic clove

1     squirt of bottled lime juice

6     tablespoons apple cider vinegar 

1     drizzle of olive oil

       Salt and fresh cracked black pepper to your taste

Or add

Tomato Pico de Gallo  instead of Chimichurri Salsa

2-diced tomatoes
1-fresh garlic thinly sliced (length wise)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup diced white onion
Seasoning's (salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seeds) to your taste

Or 

Add the plain cooked Nopalitos to Chile Colorado sauce.  Go to my Chile Colorado recipe listed on the side for recipe.

Nopal Water which was placed in a second container:  Add a little salt and some of the juice from the Tomato Pico de Gallo and drink the Nopal water.  It is a healthy drink and by adding some juice from the Tomato Pico de Gallo the Nopal water will taste like Tomato Pico de Gallo.

Enjoy and I hope you follow me on Facebook.   https://www.facebook.com/LaMexicanitaKitchen