Prickly Pear Cactus Pad (Nopales) Cooking

Grilling a prickly pear cactus pad harvested from my neighbor's front yard.
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The Prickly Pear Cookbook - amzn.to/3621mD5

[@username-mc7jw]

Nice to meet another Red Green fan!! Thanks for the video. Remember; Keep your stick on the ice...

[@rickkaylor8554]

Commonly sold in super markets here in southern California. They are very tasty. The fruit of this plant was the first wild edible I'd ever eaten. They are really good.

[@JoeBloww762]

Nopal is my favorite vegetable because at least for me, it’s the only vegetable I could eat all on its own. Absolutely delicious.

[@xenagriffinlange2301]

I just tried this as my local supermarket sells cacti pads, and it was 5/5 cacti--delicious! Thanks for the recipe!!

[@pedro_claro]

Missed a chance to call it cactilicious

[@MrSaucySauce242]

Solid video..and great sense of humor ...great way to help the neighbors 😆.

[@pinchebruha405]

So great for diabetics lowers blood sugar amazingly fast! And it’s delicious too! My mama julienne’s it’s soaks it ( to get the goo out) then tosses it along with tomatoes and onions

[@sameralramahys]

صح

[@daisynelson3312]

Wow! Every day there's something new to learn. Awesome ! Thanks for sharing.

[@wakawaka8257]

You can also use a straw to push through the spines. Most of them are directly on the opposite side of the pad.

[@dalet7300]

Love how your grill in thrashed on the outside but perfect on the inside. 🤣

[@harlemscarlet]

I have a huge one I've grown myself and I thought they were growing flowers, had no idea it's growing FRUIT! And it's FREE! Lol. Gonna try some

[@truther4851]

Miyoshi Hemingway Do it lol ... Im going to eat my cactus as well ..

[@watchanime331]

Yeah the fruit is called prickly pear

[@rubykisses80]

Yes it taste so good and so juicy

[@JDCCHANNEL]

please visit my channel i will show you how to pell the fruit of preakly before you eat thank you

[@harlemscarlet]

@@JDCCHANNEL I'll check it out. Thanks!

[@raquilcalambro8215]

I am so interested and I want to learn how to eat or cook.i finally got your videos and thanks a lot dude.God bless you.i have at home tallest than our first floor roof.

[@simplebudd]

Jesse, this is the best presentation on how to remove the spikes with logical explanation. Thank you.

[@brettelizabethspore]

That was a cool video! Thanks for sharing.

[@241hnd]

Thanks for posting this Jessie. It was very interesting. I have eaten the smaller tender pads as well as the fruit but I never realized that you could eat the larger pads. Now I have something new to try.

[@MistyWoman4]

Excellent video from start to finish. You show every step. Those tongs are a great idea. I’m still picking the little pickies from my body I got on me while I was transplanting it. Ouch!!! If I touch something with my fingers or my clothes brush across me in a certain way, it lets me know I missed getting those pulled off. I had no idea this catus could be eaten. Thanks! 🤗💓

[@dustincastro8642]

thanks for posting i have similar cactus in my yard and im trying to eat for the first time. mine flowers yellow not sure the fruit color i think red.

[@limestonecastle]

how did it go

[@hitechkisani]

Nice video

[@midnitkisser]

I always order my nopales when I go to the taqueria they’re so delicious and healthy.

[@TheFAFOHouse]

Idk what hapened to my Opuntia. It grew crazy this year but most of outside pads dropped in one day. The other plant which had a growth spurt late stayed intact. Its not under/overwatered.

[@LeoEsp78]

Another way to eat cactus is to cook it with eggs, to do this, cut the prickly pear into small pieces, then boil the chopped cactus until it changes color to a dark green and softens the cactus, then drains and wash all the necessary times until no more baba (viscous liquid), then fry the nopal and after a while, add the egg and salt and mix everything well and the food is ready

[@denisemcdonald2122]

My fight is bone marrow cancer, I believe in my immune system so Natural it is, for everything. Wouldn't the bitter gel benefit me?

[@Bob-gn8ph]

Yes it's good for you

[@denisemcdonald2122]

@@Bob-gn8ph thank you💕

[@arteks2001]

Try it with lime and salt, and a steak.

[@kevinmcmaster9872]

Thanks - Nice red green reference btw!

[@simplyimpish1055]

I at some at a party, they were sliced thin and looked and tasted like green beans!

[@RanksProductionsGe]

Never try that looking delicious thanks for sharing 👍

[@odiswhitetexas]

Jesse, I don't know if your still getting notices, but have you ever tried to use a torch to burn the small spines off? If so, did that work well enough to not use the knife? Thanks!

[@jessemsparks]

That's a pretty common method that some people use. I don't have a gas stove and didn't want to use the blowtorch in the kitchen. This variety didn't have many spines, so was easy enough to use a knife. If I was outside near a campfire, I'd definitely use fire instead.

[@sergiophenix]

That is a superfood on par with pomegranate and avocado. But you have to pick the smaller tender ones, those big ones are too hard and old.

[@tsi87supr60]

Have you tried to marinate the pad ? Seems like it would need the same time on the grill to break down the fibers & texture before doing a marinade.

[@jessemsparks]

I have eaten them marinated, but never tried myself. I don't think they're particularly fibrous, but you can peel off the exterior to make eat softer.

[@starrturner426]

I am in a spot with access to all I would ever be able to eat. I am going to try this . The ones here have big spines so it will be more work.

[@grantmccoy6739]

That's so funny that it tastes like asparagus, that's what I was thinking halfway through the video. I love grilled asparagus, but hate canned asparagus.

[@johnerway7255]

Thanks, I am going to try this.

[@Saaaahdoood]

Is this in the same family as opuntia microdasys and are those edible?

[@Owen741.]

Why is this so funny??? Lol never knew so many people eat these and are sold in stores in texas.

[@khalidburalle4000]

Really interesting,i'm living in Africa for last 3 yesrs,only they eat the fruits sometimes...never try before... Thanks for vedio

[@jasvindersinghteacher7525]

Very nice.

[@elsamontiel1058]

Do you still have this type of nopal? How can I get one paddle to plant in my garden?

[@carltaylor4942]

Thousands of these where I live! I'm definitely going to try thid.

[@mimilinda8573]

I don't think they are edibles they are wild be careful.

[@Bob-gn8ph]

@@mimilinda8573 of course they are edible

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

@@mimilinda8573 you’re clueless

[@johnlewisbrooks]

The pads are great bit the fruit is where the REAL good stuff is!

[@videosaala]

Spines hv pattern like pinapple.. cool. Just noticed!

[@Bob-gn8ph]

Yes watch videos about Fibonacci and the golden ratio it proves creator

[@fg8806]

Wow I love this 😍😍😍 I'm friend from Iraq🇮🇶

[@messeduphina566]

How to identify which cactus is edible?

[@arteks2001]

Flat ones.

[@AlexanderZapataIndividual]

To temove the spines I do a scraping motion. Because the spines rest in a little knob, they get scrapped off with the blade. This will make the process much faster.

[@jessemsparks]

I've tried this method with minimal success. Do you use a large heavy kitchen knife or something small like a paring knife?

[@AlexanderZapataIndividual]

I use a big blade, but i find it does not matter if you use iot vigorously enough. I end up scratching all the face of the cactus, those thorns are of the first things to go, given they have a little knob holding them. that reminds me of a video called: "Can A Human Trick Their Mind Into Eating 10 Cacti?" (Our bodies can handle a great many things.) Most of the dishes I eat with that plant are by cooking it by boiling. Not sure if that softens the thorn remnants, but they are not a problem then. Raw, maybe yea you get som stiff bothersome thorns if you are not as meticulous I figure.

[@guild79s]

Thank you.

[@MagnusFabrication]

Ive heard of people just using fire to singe the spines off

[@Prudence1733]

Very interesting. I’m wondering how much of it you were able to eat and does it mess with your stomach? I’m a bit apprehensive 😬 but want to try out survival foods.

[@jessemsparks]

Prudence 1733 I ate the whole pad in one sitting. It didn’t mess with my stomach, but even if you added spices, I think you would need other side dishes to really feel satisfied. These days I roast them and add to tacos instead of eating as a main dish.

[@Owen741.]

They sell these at the market in texas and down in mexico

[@maxwagner1341]

I used fire to burn off the hairs

[@SeaSideVibes101]

delicious

[@susanbennett8912]

Catcus is good source of survival food , like Natives eaten these type of food

[@barbarafleury4676]

🙋 handsome & handy !!!

[@bhronrobcastillo424]

i wonder how does it taste like?..

[@RebeccaShort-f8x]

I hope someone reads this before it’s too late! Wear gloves when shaving the spines. I just learned the hard way. Yes I was using tongs. The needles fly around and are very fine.. you might even want to do it outside

[@samaralseamer5065]

👍👍👍🧚🏼‍♂️🧚🏻‍♀️🧚🏼‍♂️🧚🏻‍♀️thanksgiving

[@okok-mz5sh]

I was reccomended this .. Wow I didnt know thats how they were prepared!

[@thisiscookie1571]

Can you do this with the ones with big spines too?

[@jessemsparks]

Sure you can. It'll just be a lot more work to prepare it for grilling.

[@bombdiggityr5480]

That nopal asado is good in some tacos with some salsa de molcajete !!! You should try making the salsa next time

[@rechellebrave2147]

There's a guy I saw once who held the pad over fire to sear off the spines and then he could just rub them off with a stick or a knife edge

[@meerafinearts1914]

Your videos are awesome!

[@241hnd]

Can you cook these on the stovetop in a pan?

[@THEJAPMANROBERT]

You can use a cast iron skillet as for a normal pan I’d see about some adding bacon and some spices.

[@davidloera1354]

EN MEXICO WE EAT THE MOST TENDER NOPAL IS SOFTER

[@christonaratliff3914]

What if you torch them off, would that be sufficent, or just ruin the pad before grilling?

[@scottchya7868]

Good calll.

[@goodmorningvenezuela6329]

I bet you are a Red Green fan.

[@jessemsparks]

100%

[@miariis5490]

Thanku!!!!!!!😃😃😃

[@user-xd5zi3kt4s]

The red green show love that part

[@michealjohnson5187]

DID U COOK

[@jessemsparks]

I did, yes.

[@epiphanimusik9538]

now that's real beef

[@survivalbushcraftcampingor6834]

He lives!

[@hasimelimani1749]

Survival, Bushcraft, Camping, or Something

[@brandonGCHACHU]

Vegan steak

[@redxcube1543]

What color of the fruits? Are you from California?

[@jessemsparks]

red xcube the fruits start green and turn deep red/purple when ripe. I currently live in Arizona.

[@brendanlentz]

Heard you on the Urban Farm podcast. You mentioned a Facebook group - can you expand on that? Is it just a general neighborhood group or is it something specific to neighborhood harvesting? I'm in Phoenix and interested to learn more..

[@jessemsparks]

Thanks for the comment! Always interesting to hear where people are directed to the videos from. The Urban Gardening Arizona Facebook group is at facebook.com/profile.php?id=898605170177444 . I would recommend anyone to look the urban gardening groups in their area and if one doesn't exist, start one!

[@brendanlentz]

Awesome, thanks for the tip and I really enjoyed your interview. Very inspiring!

[@umaryusuf537]

I only plant cactus for one reason tortoise food.

[@sailaja3638]

is it not too bitter

[@jessemsparks]

I don't think it's bitter but you won't know for sure until you try! Let me know if you try it and how you like it :)

[@sylviabryan9541]

Can you freeze them for future use

[@jessemsparks]

I've never tried but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Test it out and comment back and let me know how it goes, please!

[@estherhernandez6299]

sylvia Bryan ,no you shouldn't freeze them, they will just get super slimier , but you can cut them up and put in a ziplock, and cook then with in that same week, fry them with some chopped onion, chopped tomato, and a Lil cilantro, they also make a delicious cactus salad refrigerate till served, for the summer

[@muthukumaran76]

it is bitter taste?

[@jessemsparks]

Not particularly bitter, no. Just like a succulent leafy green. You can season them all kinds of ways if you want. I just grilled some up with cajun spices and it was super tasty.

[@muthukumaran76]

@@jessemsparks OH,I am going to try it

[@vishnunugador1202]

Cactus a cheaper vegetable that you can get for free if you see 1 near the street

[@redxcube1543]

How old is your Prickly Pear Cactus?

[@jessemsparks]

This particular one was probably 15-20 years old. It was put in shortly after the house was built but before I moved in.

[@neatrepeat]

Taste like a cross between asparagus and greenbeans

[@RSAKanye]

I'm just gonna eat her Cactus Hahahah 😂😂😂 Lol Dude you're Awesome

[@chimenkanwadike2018]

niiko10ne @ dgmhytgtt

[@efethecaptain6]

Tastes like zucchini. I tried to fry with oil and boil in water. Not exactly like zucchini but quite similar with more texture to it. Not my thing.

[@Deontjie]

How about rubbing the leaves with toilet paper to get the thorns off?

[@emmaccode]

Jeeze why do all prickly pear cooks on KZbin scrape the spines? If you stick the thing into fire for 1 second all of the spines instantly vaporize. They're incredibly dry and flammable, whereas the pad itself is not. Same thing can be done with the fruits -- I make wine with it.

[@wakawaka8257]

Boil em. Add it to chicken and add flour and oil, onion.... Done.

[@NajLahsen]

So I tried these for the first time today (since I'm vegan & trying all kinds of vegetables) luckily the store sells them ready for use! Just had to wash them. I will say that I was very surprised as what the taste turned out to be. They are incredibly citrusy and tart! I'm very surprised that ppl eat them with eggs, meat, stews etc. I cannot see myself eating these in any way other than salads or similar dishes.

[@Bob-gn8ph]

Try again not all cactus are the same

[@sO_RoNerY]

@@Bob-gn8phjust like people’s personalities.

[@billyd7628]

the one's sold in the stores are the young nopalitos this guy ate a mature pad might have something to do with that.

[@mtcamelia694]

Uau !

[@liamchua6353]

Better yet use a pliers to pick those prickly things or go to your Latin market for ready for cooking and they are pick for tender fiber

[@AzilLexy]

My sister ate same cactus as this she end up in the hospital. Maybe she was allergic to it. Her face swelled

[@Owen741.]

This is prickley pear cactus and has deep purple bulbs/fruit that form on it are tou sure it was same plant?

[@edithattreed4762]

Mexicans used longer knives,it’s much more quicker

[@originalsmountup2019]

That was not enough seasoning

[@abdirahmanmohamud686]

Why don't you put some ketchup it's delicious try it yum

[@billyd7628]

ketchup is gross

[@Bleepbleepblorbus]

If it's safe (and totally *not* disgusting) I'd probably try what someone would throw at me

[@standardarm63]

Mom says when you run low on eggs because of company you bust out the cactus.

[@wealthy1000]

That grill looks mighty dirty!! Clean it!! Before cooking.

[@Bob-gn8ph]

Who cares it just adds more flavor:-)

[@adamone7962]

My mom cuts out the spines in under a minute, thats how often we eat those

[@richardmang2558]

It would be great to have your mom do a video removing the spines. Showing an experienced cactus chef !! Does she recommend a certain style of knife? I was thinking of sharpening a spoon so I could scoop out the spines easier. The cactus leaves are delicious in so many ways, sautéed, BBQ, soups, blended in the blender, etc... But removing the spines is difficult.

[@Bob-gn8ph]

@@richardmang2558 hey that spoon idea sounds pretty cool did you ever try it?

[@motofactorymadness210]

Funny how your going to just "eat your neighbors plant now" screw cutting it down when you can just eat it down😂

[@lamvuonchannel8300]

Hello

[@mimilinda8573]

Jesse couldn't you clean the grill at least rinse it. Wow.

[@TheActualShadowTheHedgehog]

It ain’t tht bad I’ve seen worse

[@Bob-gn8ph]

Who cares it just adds more flavor:-)

[@suzanbeverlyhills2310]

No way 😢I injured myself

[@keepyourclipsloaded]

Dude, you ought to clean your grill once in a awhile.

[@rrdgz5355]

No. NO. Dude that's a penca, a mature leaf, you only eat those if you're in a life or death situation. Nopalitos, young leaves, the ones that you eat are bright green and the spikes look like rose thorns

[@michaelricciuto9968]

Do hard sear first. then lower to 300. Bast with butter and garlic dude. Need more flavor. And clean your grill for videos. Otherwise good job.

[@zahrareshadi]

You can easily burn those fronds

[@jessemsparks]

I personally like a bit of char on the pad but roasting over medium flame so far has not produced an over-burned pad. (Though now that I've said that, I may have jinxed the next one I cook!)