NOPAL TACO RECIPES

Steps:

• Special equipment: thin gloves.
• For the nopales cactus:.
• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Wearing thin gloves, use a sharp paring knife, held at a 45-degree angle to the paddles, to carefully remove the spines. Make 3 to 5 slits in the skin of the cactus and rub all over with the garlic clove, then the oil. Sprinkle with some salt.
• Lightly oil the grill grates. Grill the nopales cactus until lightly charred, and the pad becomes tender, flipping once, 10 to 15 minutes total. Set aside to cool, then cut into 1/4-inch strips.
• For the ancho chile puree:.
• Place a dry, nonstick pan over medium heat and lightly toast the chile, turning occasionally,10 minutes. Turn the heat off and step back from the pan to add 3 tablespoons of water, being careful not to let the steam burn you. Cover and let the chile soak 15 minutes.
• Transfer the chile with its water to a blender with a pinch of salt and puree until smooth, adding more water if needed. Combine 3 tablespoons of the resulting paste with the olive oil and the remaining 2 to 3 pinches of salt, or more to taste. (Save the rest of the paste for another use.).
• For the roasted tomato salsa:.
• Combine the tomatoes, quartered Serranos and onions in a large bowl. Toss with the canola oil. Spread the tomatoes, onions, quartered Serranos, 1 clove garlic and bay leaf in a baking pan. Place under the broiler and char until nicely colored, stirring occasionally, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the dried ancho chiles in a container of water and allow to hydrate, 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle the broiled vegetables evenly with the paprika, then toss to coat and return to the broiler, about 1 minute. Watch carefully and do not allow the paprika to burn. Remove from the broiler. Stir in the chopped Serranos, ancho chiles (discard the water), chile flakes and olive oil. Allow to marinate in the pan at room temperature, tossing occasionally, 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
• Chop the tomatoes and stir them together with the other vegetables in a bowl, tearing off and adding small amounts of toasted bread as needed to thicken. Add the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
• Mince the remaining clove garlic. Stir into the salsa along with the cilantro, lime juice and Mexican oregano. Stir in additional salt to taste.
• For the avocado crema:.
• Combine the avocado flesh, lime juice, orange juice, lemon juice, cilantro and salt to taste in a food processor, and pulse until pureed. Pass through a fine-mesh strainer and adjust seasoning to taste.
• For the tacos:.
• Place the tortillas on a serving plate. Spread with the ancho chile puree using the back of a spoon. Arrange a thin layer of nopales cactus strips over the ancho chile puree. Add a layer of shredded lettuce and spoon some roasted tomato salsa over the top. Drizzle with some avocado crema, and sprinkle with the cheese. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• To prepare the Cactus Paddles (4), scrub them under water with a firm bristled brush. Wear a glove on the hand you are holding the paddle with to prevent yourself from getting any thorns in your fingers.
• Once all of the paddles are thoroughly scrubbed, use a vegetable peeler to remove the bumps that once held the thorns from the body and edges of the paddles.
• Next, dice the paddles into approximately 1/2" by 1/2" pieces.
• Once all the paddles have been cleaned and diced, boil them in salted water for 5 minutes.
• Place onto paper towels to cool and dry.
• Add cactus, Yellow Onion (1/4), Jalapeño Pepper (1), Fresh Cilantro (1/4 cup) and Sea Salt Flakes (to taste) to a medium bowl and toss to combine.
• Heat a large cast iron skillet with Neutral Oil (1 tablespoon) over medium high heat. Add nopales salad to skillet and cook for a few minutes until mixture is warmed through and just beginning to brown.
• Add Fire Roasted Corn Kernels (1 1/2 cup) (thawed to room temp if using frozen corn) to the skillet and cook with the nopales for a few minutes until heated through - turn off heat and leave skillet on the stovetop to stay warm while you prepare the tacos.
• Slice 1/4 inch off of each end of the Lime (1) and cut it in half, lengthwise. Juice one of the halves and set the other cut side-down?? on the cutting board. Slice it at an angle, lengthwise to make lime wedges and set aside.
• Warm a lightly greased griddle over medium heat, once hot, add a few White Corn Tortilla (8) to the griddle and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add a small handful of Monterey Jack Cheese (1 cup) to each tortilla while still on the griddle.
• Fill with each tortilla with the nopales and roasted corn mixture, using about 1/3 cup of filling per taco (use more or less depending on the size of your tortillas).
• Remove filled tortillas from griddle and put on plates to serve. To each taco add 1 tbsp Sour Cream (1/2 cup) mixed with Lime Juice, a slice or two of the Avocado (1), Cotija Cheese (to taste) and Fresh Cilantro (to taste).
• Serve tacos with Lime Wedges. Enjoy!