zforbes
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Cooking with nopalitos
Other than adding them to scrambled eggs, salads and soups, does anyone have suggestions for cooking with nopalitos? A number of studies suggest that
nopalitos may have beneficial effects on blood sugar levels, so I want to add them to my regular diet.
Also, how do you get the spines off when you prepare fresh nopales without getting them in your fingers? Is there an easy way to make them less slimy?
Zoe
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Diver
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How to prepare:
http://www.rivenrock.com/recipes.html
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susanna
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First try passing the nopalito over the fire to burn off the espinas.I love them in mole with shrimp paddies on top.
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Bajahowodd
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For anyone seeking a possible health benefit from nopalitos needs to stay away from the canned or jarred versions because they are crazy high in
sodium.
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Iflyfish
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Thanks Diver, love those babies but have been afraid of the thorns.
What is the red cactus fruit that folks in Baja use in their drinks? I think it is different than the nopal?
Iflyfish
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JESSE
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The only two recipes i like with nopalitos are with scrambled eggs and shrimp cakes or tortitas de camaron.
Heres the recipe:
SERVES 6
5 guajillo chiles
2 medium tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
3 whole cloves
6 cloves garlic, peeled
8 sprigs fresh cilantro
2 1/2 cups dried shrimp
2/3 cup fine dried bread crumbs
10 egg yolks, lightly beaten
10 egg whites
4 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. masa harina
1 cup nopalitos
1. Place a small skillet over medium heat. Halve chiles, flatten on hot skillet, and toast, turning once, 10-15 seconds in all. Place chiles in a
small bowl and add 1 cup hot water. Cover and set aside until soft and pliable, about 30 minutes. In same skillet, cook tomatoes over medium-high heat
until soft but firm, about 2 minutes per side, then remove from skillet and set aside.
2. Drain chiles; remove stems and seeds. Combine chiles, tomatoes, cumin, cloves, garlic, and cilantro in a blender and process until smooth. Combine
mixture with 4 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes, then strain sauce and set aside.
3. Process shrimp and bread crumbs in a blender until a fine paste is formed. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in egg yolks. In another bowl, whisk egg
whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold shrimp mixture into egg whites.
4. Scoop out 1/4 cup shrimp mixture and press gently between your palms to form a 2 1/2'' cake. Repeat with remaining shrimp mixture (yields 12
cakes).
5. Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp cakes in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side,
adding more oil if necessary. Transfer cakes to a platter as they're done.
6. Pour 1/4 cup sauce into a bowl and whisk in masa harina until dissolved. Combine mixture and remaining sauce in shrimp skillet and simmer over
medium-low heat. Add shrimp cakes and nopalitos. Cook for 25 minutes, periodically spooning sauce over cakes to moisten, and serve.
[Edited on 12-5-2009 by JESSE]
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Iflyfish
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Oh, my, oh, my! Makes my mouth water. I almost licked the screen on my laptop.
What is the cactus fruit used for tequilla drinks, starts with P I think, pithia or something like this.
Iflyfish
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zforbes
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Jesse, that looks and sounds absolutely delicious. Susanna, thanks for the tip about passing the nopales over the fire. Iflyfish, I think you are
talking about pitahaya. And yeah, Bajahowodd...let's skip the salt and go for the fresh!
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
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pitahaya, yup, that's it, thanks
Iflyfish
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mulegemichael
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nopales on the grill when serving carne asada is fantastic!...harvest a palm sized leaf and slice "fingers" into it..so now you've got a nopale
hand...grill it on both sides with the carne and douse with soy sauce, turning frequently....the best way to get the spines off is fairly
easy...first, leather gloves, then, a sharp fillet knife....grab the "hand" and lay it flat on a cutting board then lay the knife down almost flat on
the nopale...just barely stroke the knife and shear the spines off...watched guys at sorianas in san jose do like, 10 of em a minute...i can do one.
you'll love it prepared this way, and it's not slimey...much.
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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