Marta's Ensalada de Nopal

Here is one of my family’s favorite dishes. Since we are from the desert country of northern Mexico and southwest U.S., and my husband’s family from the high deserts of Jalisco, we are familiar with the cactus, the nopal,. If you grow nopales in your garden, select the young pads, scrape off the espinas, cut in small pieces and boil with an onion for 10-15, when the nopals change from dark green to a pale green. Drain and cool, remove the onion. Or just buy the cactus, menos trabajo.

I did not include the amounts because it depends on how much nopales you have, so go with your own judgement.

Nopales, of course

Tomatoes

Onion

Serrano or jalapeno chiles

Cilantro

Salt

Lemon or lime

This dish is wonderful with avocado and tostadas.