By Veronica Gomez, UC Davis Nutrition Peer Counselor
I wrote an article last month about not abandoning culture in the pursuit of healthy-eating
In that blog I mentioned Nopales— a staple ingredient in Mexico. I am happy to share an authentic but student-friendly recipe that utilizes this nutrient-packed food. This is Ensalada de Nopales, a salad that is refreshing and the perfect side to any meal:
List of Ingredients:
- 1 jar of pre-cooked nopales (can be found in the Hispanic aisle in major grocery stores like Safeway )
- 2 ripe roma tomatoes
- 1/2 white onion
- 1 jalapeno
- 1 tbsp of the juice found in canned jalapeños
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Cilantro to taste
- Salt to taste
Preparation:
- Drain and rinse the nopales. Nopales release a moisture that can be thick and unappetizing to some. To mitigate this, simply drain and rinse with water until thinned down.
- Place rinsed nopales in a mixing bowl (optional: dice the nopales)
- Dice your tomatoes, onion, & jalapeno and add to mixing bowl
- Open the canned jalapeños and collect some juice from the can. Add this to the mixture in order to get a unique citrus flavor (optional: dice up a pickled jalapeño & add to mixture for extra spice)
- Add the juice of 1 lemon
- Combine all the ingredients and add chopped cilantro and salt to taste
- Enjoy with tortilla chips or as a topping on your favorite meals!
- Store in an airtight container and place in fridge for up to two weeks
Enjoy!
Healthy Aggies at UC Davis 