Nopales

Nopales

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Nopal is a very important plant in Mexico. It is our concept of identity; it is on the Mexican Flag, coins, and Mexico's coat of arms. It is rich in vitamin B, C and calcium. The tender leaves are used as a vegetable. It gives a rich fruit called tunas, also known as prickly pears.

 

There are approx. 30 varieties of nopal. As a vegetable it can be prepared many ways; boiled, fried, baked and pickled. Nopal is used for soups, dishes combined with chile, chorizo, egg, fillings for tacos, and mole sauces.

 

 I recall as a little girl, having to remove the splinters on the leafs. My mother would spread out newspaper on the floor, hand us a small dull knife, and one by one, remove the splinters. Well worth the effort, as she would prepare the nopal in a variety ways, my favorite,mixing eggs and or with mole.

The small tuna is very tasty, but be careful with the splinters! The fruit must be peeled, and splinters removed. The tuna when boiled with sugar, until thick and strained makes a syrup that can mixed with water and ice for a cool drink.
 
 
Other things Nopal is used for:

 ·   In rural areas, planted in a row, serves as a wall

·  The sticky juice serves as waterproofing

·  The same juice can be used as wave set for hair

·  The broiled leaves help bring down swelling

·  Nopal is eaten to regulate sugar level, thus combating diabetes

·  Remedy to lose weight, when prepared with zucchini, tomatillos in one liter of water.