Nopal

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

A nopal salad

Nopal is a type of cactus popularly consumed as a food item in Mexico and other places.

Etiology[edit | edit source]

The word nopal comes rom the Nahuatl word nohpalli

Other names[edit | edit source]

Prickly Pear cactus

Classification[edit | edit source]

Nopal is from the Opuntia family, subfamily Opuntioidae.

Species[edit | edit source]

There are over 100 varieties. The most commonly used species opuntia ficus-indica

Food preparation[edit | edit source]

Nopal is used in Mexican cuisine where it can be eaten raw or cooked.

Food items[edit | edit source]

  • It can be used in marmalades, soups stews and salads
  • It is also used for traditional medicine.
  • Other uses include are fodder for animals.

Edible parts[edit | edit source]

The pads of almost all Opuntia species are edible as well as the fruit called the tuna - in North America, it is known as Prickly Pear.

How sold?[edit | edit source]

Nopales are generally sold fresh, as well as bottled or canned versions, dried versions are available in Mexico.

Common dishes[edit | edit source]

Nopales are most commonly used in Mexican cuisine in dishes such as huevos con nopales (eggs with nopal), carne con nopales (meat with nopal), tacos de nopales, or simply on their own or in salads with queso panela (panela cheese). Candied nopale is called acitróne

Nutrient content[edit | edit source]

Per US cup serving, nopal fruit provides

Lifecycle[edit | edit source]

Edible Leaf Cycle[edit | edit source]

  • Bud Appears

  • Bud Grows

  • Bud Continues to Grow

  • Baby Pad Grows

  • Continues to grow, but some people prefer to eat them at this stage

  • "Adult Pad", These pads are ready to be eaten

  • Spines Start Developing, but some people prefer to eat them at this stage

Nopal on Wikipedia[edit source]

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD