Earlier this week I shared some ideas for creating healthier appetizers at holiday time. Today, I wanted to share with you an app that you may not have ever considered: Cactus Salsa
Yes, really.
Growing up in Southern California, I was exposed to a wide range of flavors at an early age and cactus happened to be one of them. Our family trips to Olvera Street for carnitas soft tacos also included a plate of nopales. And my mom often made this cactus salsa for us at family get-togethers. It’s delicious and full of vegetables and herbs.
Serve Cactus Salsa with chips or as a topping for tacos.
Cactus, also called Nopalitos, usually comes in a jar. I’ve bought it at Walmart in Olathe, Kansas, so I’m pretty sure you could buy it anywhere Latin American foods are sold.
Recipe: Cactus Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 cup cactus, rinsed and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 -2 avocado, peeled and diced
- 3 tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 to 1 whole jalapeno, finely chopped
- juice of 1/2 a lime
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir gently.
Ready for a healthier holiday? Visit my fellow Healthy Holiday bloggers for great inspiration in planning a nutritious and delicious holiday meal. Not only are we providing healthier dishes for every course of your holiday meal, but we’ll also be talking turkey at a Twitter party on Wednesday night. Be there or be square!
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oooh i’ve totally had the same salsa before, my friends call it ‘texas’ something or other (not salsa), but never with cactus. what does cactus taste like?
@sarah k. @ the pajama chef, I think you’re thinking of “Texas Caviar” which has some of those vegetables with black eyed peas. If you make it with black beans it’s called, “Santa Barbara Caviar.” My mom started making this about 35 years ago, but she just called it, “Nopales.”
As for taste, I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s a tender texture, but not mushy. You’ll have to try it! 😉
@Jessica, oh that’s right! but i just checked, and the recipe i’ve been given for texas caviar is basically the same–just more lime and corn. i’ve never had it with black eyed peas. sounds good though! just goes to show that there are a ton of ways to make the same(ish) thing 🙂
Thank you for this! My mom used to make cactus salsa and I bought a jar a short while ago wanting to try it. I forgot all about it. Now I don’t have to go searching for a recipe!
I LOVE nopales tacos! This sounds tasty, right up my alley. Thanks for posting!
Allie
Interesting. I’ve seen the cactus pads for sale, but i’ve actually never seen them in a jar before. Oddly, I don’t think I’ve ever had nopalitos, either – despite being from southern Arizona.
That sounds really good! I bought a big jar of those and was wondering how I can use them all up. I had Cactus before, it was cooked with shredded meat and served in homemade corn tortillas.
I’ve never had cactus, but this looks delicious!
Delicious. Had to revisit this post to write the recipe down. Its going with us to our extended family “soup and snack” supper. Thanks!
Interesting fact: Napales are an excellent food to eat on a regular bases for diabetics. Check it out!