How to Clean Nopales
Learn how to clean nopales like a pro with my step-by-step guide accompanied by helpful photos. All you need is a good knife to perfect the technique of removing the thorns and edges from cactus paddles so that you can begin to incorporate this delicious and nutritious ingredient into more meals.
Equipment
- Kitchen gloves
- Kitchen towel
Ingredients
- 5 nopales (cactus paddles)
Instructions
- Preparation: Put on your kitchen gloves or use a kitchen towel or tongs to protect your hands from the prickly spines. Nopales have tiny, hair-like thorns that can be irritating.
- Remove the thorns: Hold the cactus paddle to keep it steady. Then, use a knife to carefully remove the thorns, gliding it upwards, in the opposite direction that they grow.
- Trim the edges: Place the cactus pad on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to trim off the edges.
- Remove base: Cut away both the thorny edges and the base of the pad.
- Rinse: Check for any thorns you may have missed before rinsing the nopales under running water to remove any dirt or residual spines.
- Slice or chop: Once the nopales are peeled and cleaned, you can slice or chop them according to your recipe’s requirements.
A Note from Lola
Protect your hands from thorns by using either kitchen gloves or holding the cactus paddle with tongs or a clean kitchen towel.
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