Nopal: Everything You Need To Know About The Edible Mexican Cactus
Do you want to learn interesting facts about Nopal, the Mexican cactus?
Nopal is a type of edible cactus in Mexico. It tastes a little citrusy and has a moist crunchy texture with a bit slimy and rubbery texture that is akin to okra.
Mexico boasts about 114 known species of this cactus. Along with many other Opuntia species to which the nopal belongs, this particular kind is the most widely distributed across the globe.
Opuntia ficus-indica – or simply nopal – is the most widely cultivated of its species for food consumption.
Well, yes – you can really eat this cactus from the leaves (called pads or paddles) to the fruit. In fact, you don’t have to be in Mexico to sample it!
You can buy nopales in cans or jars, dried or in juice form, at your regular grocery and specialty Mexican grocery stores. Some Asian grocery stores also sell them.
But before we go on, let us first delve into the history of this Mexican cactus.
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Nopal: Everything You Need To Know About The Edible Mexican Cactus
History of Nopal
Nopal has been cultivated for food for over 9,000 years. This cactus is native to Central America, Mexico in particular. It was already widely spread throughout the Americas during pre-Columbian times.
Nopales (or nopalitos) were grown and consumed as a vegetable in this region even before the arrival of the Spaniards. Spanish explorers took this cactus back to their country. It even spread throughout North Africa with the Moors.
Back in Central America, the nopal cactus was eaten by the Chichimeca tribes as a food staple along with beans, corns, and maguey. They called this cactus “nohpalli,” which is a Nahuatl word that became “nopal” when the Spanish came to the land.
Nopal has come a long way since. It has become a staple food for Mexicans and an enduring symbol of Mexico. Nopales have also become important in Tejano culture of Texas.
Where to Find Nopales in Mexico
Nopales grow extensively throughout Mexico, from Sonora in the north to Oaxaca in the south. However, these cacti are especially abundant in the arid and semi-arid regions in central Mexico.
Nopales can be bought all throughout Mexico and abroad. They are sold fresh, dried, canned, or in jars in markets and grocery stores.
Uses of Nopal
Nopal is a very common ingredient of the staple diet of Mexican people. The pads of this cactus are commonly used in many Mexican dishes, including carne con nopales (“meat with nopal”), huevos con nopales (“eggs with nopal”), tacos de nopales (“tacos with nopal”), and in salads with panela cheese, onion, and tomato.
Nopales can be consumed raw or simply on their own as a side dish. To eat them raw, nopalitos are diced, resembling diced green pepper. Additionally, you can turn these cacti into tea or juice.
The pads can also be used in jams, soups, stews. Overcooked cactus can get slimy and rubbery, so make sure to remove them from the heat once the color of nopal has become paler.
Some of the more popular Mexican dishes that use nopales as ingredients are nopales con costillas de puerco y chile rojo (cactus paddles w/ pork ribs and red chili), pico de gallo con nopales (salsa with nopales), and chile colorado con nopales (beef stew in a red chile sauce and nopales).
Benefits of Nopal
As previously mentioned, nopales are widely used in Mexican cooking. However, that is not all you can get from this cactus.
Nopales also serve as food for various animals such as deers and goats, hares and rabbits, iguanas, birds, squirrels, and many others.
Besides both human and animal consumption, nopal is also used for traditional medicine. This particular cactus is promoted for treating the following:
• liver conditions
• ulcers
• diabetes
• glaucoma
• high cholesterol
• obesity
• hangovers
• fatigue
• wounds
Nopales are also said to contain vitamins, and minerals, as well as antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Nopal’s juice is low in calories and sugar but rich in antioxidants and health-promoting nutrients. Nopal water is favored by athletes as it is rich in electrolytes that can support hydration.
Nopal water is also used for skin care. In fact, many beauty and cosmetic products include nopal water in their ingredients.
Risks of Nopal Consumption
There have been some reported cases of allergic reactions to eating cactus fruit. These reactions include skin rashes and itching as well as swelling. In some rare cases, breathing difficulties have been reported, which may have developed into hives, wheezing, fast heart rate, vomiting, fainting, and many others.
These are the things you should keep in mind when eating nopales. Also, when you’re in Mexico, be mindful where you get your cactus. In many parts of the country, fresh nopal juice is sold after rinsing the plant only with tap water.
Pasteurization or any antibacterial processing, although not unheard of, are very uncommon. You should realize that cattle manure is a common fertilizer they use in nopal farms.
When taken unpasteurized, nopal juice may contain bacterias like Escherichia coli and even Salmonella, which can cause serious illnesses. So you should be careful when buying nopal and nopal juice. Make sure you get them from reputable sources.
Fun Facts About Nopal
1. Nopal is in the Mexican flag
You can see the coat of arms on the flag of Mexico featuring an eagle perched on a cactus. It tells about how Mexico City was established.
According to legend, the Aztec people were told by their gods to build their city wherever they saw an eagle eating a snake while perched on a cactus.
This crest has been a very relevant political and cultural symbol of Mexico representing the triumph of good over evil.
2. Nopal fruits are called “prickly pears”
We have already established that the leaves or pads/paddles of this cactus plant are called nopales or nopalitos. The upper part of the stalks, however, bears the prickly pear. Prickly pears are the red, purple, or yellow fruits that contain crunchy seeds.
3. Nopales are best eaten in the spring and the autumn
This cactus plant sprouts in the spring and the autumn. These are the best times of the year to eat nopales as they taste best at their juiciest – when they’re young and newly sprouted.
4. Over 7 million acres are dedicated to growing nopales in Mexico
With the exception of 1 (mistletoe cactus from Africa), all cactus species are native to North and South America. Mexico is the world’s largest producer, dedicating over 7 million acres of land to cultivating 114 species of nopales.
Not surprisingly, Mexicans are also the biggest nopal consumers.
You can just cut off a piece of the nopal plant and plant it in your own garden. It will easily grow and will not require too much care. Remember, nopal is a cactus.
In Mexico, getting a piece from someone’s garden to plant in your own is a popular tradition.
6. “Más mexicano que los nopales”
As a proof of how important and pervasive nopales are in Mexican life, you will often hear the expression “más mexicano que los nopales” in Mexico. It is an old one which means “more Mexican than nopales.” You hear it when someone is referring to something that is very Mexican or representative of Mexico, reflecting how big nopales are in Mexican culture and traditions.
