Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
White Corn
White corn is a sweet corn variety. Its ears are wrapped in tightly layered pale lime green to white husks. One ear of corn can contain up to 400 kernels growing in rows lengthwise.
Seasons/Availability
Frequently acquired locally in California, nopales are available year round with a peak season in mid-spring.
Description/Taste
The paddles of the prickly pear cactus, nopales, pronounced no-PAH-les, are about five inches long, three to four inches wide and up to one-half inch thick. Offering the combined flavor of green pepper, string beans and asparagus, they have a citric acid overtone. Soft, yet crunchy, this unusual vegetable has a slippery texture like that of okra.
Nutritional Value
An excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C, nopales contain a fair amount of the B vitamins and iron.
Applications
Although they may be eaten raw, cooked nopales are preferred. Steam briefly over boiling water just a few minutes to preserve their crunch. Slice as desired. To store, wrap in plastic; refrigerate. If bright and firm, they are good keepers. Always zip off the "eyes" and stickers with a swivel peeler. Shave the rim; trim off fibrous or dry areas. Rinse thoroughly to remove all stickers.
Geography/History
Cactus with edible fruits and vegetables are native to the United States and the tropics. Nopales are desert-dwelling plants and have been a favorite staple of Native Americans.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Tiger Tiger | San Diego CA | 619 764 5475 |
| Searsucker | San Diego CA | 619-233-7327 |
| Snake Oil Cocktail Company LLC | La Jolla CA | 858-382-5154 |
| In House Processing | ||
| Plan Cha | La Mesa CA | 619-213-4277 |
| Golden Door | San Marcos CA | 760-761-4142 |
| La Valencia | San Diego CA | 858-551-3750 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Nopales Cactus Leaf. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Cactus Jungle |
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Cactus Salad |
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Nopales Cactus Leaf using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Little Italy Mercato Near San Diego, California, United States About 52 days ago Spotter's comments : Gilbert & Lee Farms picked wild nopales for the market today. Catalina Offshore Products Near San Diego, California, United States About 113 days ago Spotter's comments : Chef Javier Plascencia is in the house tonight at Collaboration Kitchen. Erizo style fish pibil tacos with nopales cactus salad, deliciouso! |
