Cactus Mexican Style Food

CACTUS SALSA

Steps:

• Clean and dice the cactus. Add the raw nopales and cover with water. Cook with a tablespoon of sea salt for 10-15 minutes covered. When ready remove the water and rinse several times with iced or cold until slime disappears.
• Chop all ingredients and mix together with the cooked cactus. Season with sea salt, lime juice, and cumin.
• Use the cactus salsa as an appetizer with corn chips or as a garnish for salads, tacos, sopes, or tostadas.

CACTUS MEXICAN STYLE

Steps:

• Steam the cactus until softened.
• Drain the cactus.
• Fry all the ingredients except for the Monterrey Cheese.
• Combine fried ingredients with the cactus and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
• Top with cheese before serving.

MEXICAN LASAGNA WITH CACTUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a large disposable aluminum roasting pan with cooking spray.
• Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking the meat into crumbles as it browns, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain excess grease and stir in taco seasoning and half the enchilada sauce. Reserve remaining enchilada sauce for later use. Bring beef mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Set meat aside.
• Layer one package of tortillas into the bottom of the prepared aluminum roasting pan and spread refried beans evenly in a layer over the tortillas. Arrange 1 more package of halved tortillas over the beans, and top with slices of queso fresco. Spread 1 package of reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend over queso fresco slices. Lay half the sliced nopalitos in a criss-cross pattern over the shredded cheese.
• Top nopalito layer with 1 more package of tortillas and spread beef mixture over the tortillas; top with remaining package of tortillas. Finish casserole with remaining enchilada sauce and remaining 1 package cheese blend. Top the cheese with remaining nopalito slices arranged in a criss-cross pattern.
• Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is bubbling and the cheese topping is melted and starting to brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve in squares.