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person holding a spoonful of nopales salad
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5 from 1 vote

Nopales Salad

Nopales Salad is a gluten free Mexican salad that makes a fantastic filling for tortillas or a side with grilled meat.  Just toss together canned nopales, fresh veggies, and an easy dressing.  Make it vegan by leaving out the cheese.
Prep Time35 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 2 ½ cups
Calories: 91kcal

Ingredients
 

  • cup jalapeño pepper finely chopped (about 1 large pepper)
  • ¾ cup Roma tomatoes diced (about 1½ large tomatoes)
  • 15 ounce jar pickled cactus chopped (¾ cup)
  • ½ cup yellow onion diced (about ½ an onion)
  • cup cilantro leaves chopped
  • 2 ounces queso fresco crumbled
  • tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice from two limes
  • ½ tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Mix together the chopped onion, tomato, pickled cactus, and fresh jalapeño in a large bowl.
  • Whisk together the white balsamic vinegar, spices and olive oil in a smaller bowl.
  • Pour the freshly squeezed lime juice over the vegetables and stir.
  • Add the dressing, then mix well to coat all the vegetables.
  • Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and stir until well blended.
  • Cover and chill for at least an hour, then mix in half of the crumbled cheese just before serving.  Transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining crumbled cheese.  For best flavor, serve slightly cold or at room temperature.

Notes

  • To make this less spicy, don't use the pickled onion and serrano pepper from the jar of pickled cactus.
  • If you don't have any queso fresco (Mexican fresh cheese) on hand, feel free to substitute with feta cheese.
  • Use the pickled version instead of fresh to save time.
  • To remove any slime, rinse the cactus under cold water.
  • Serve as a side with grilled meat or with tortilla chips.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 343mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 917IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 1mg
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