Nopales
Nopales are generally sold fresh in Mexico. In more recent years bottled, or canned versions are available mostly for export. Less often dried versions are available. Used to prepare nopalitos, they have a light, slightly tart flavor, like green beans, and a crisp, mucilaginous texture. In most recipes the mucilaginous liquid they contain is included in the cooking. They are at their most tender and juicy in the spring.
Though Nopales are most commonly used in Mexican cuisine in dishes such as huevos con nopales (eggs with nopal), "carne con nopales" (meat with nopal), "tacos de nopales", or simply on their own or in salads with Panela Cheese. Nopales have also grown to be an important ingredient in New Mexican cuisine.
Nopales Nutrition Facts: Calories, Carbs, and Health Benefits
TweetThe composition of nopales is 94.12% water, 3.33% carbohydrates, 1.32% protein, 2.2% dietary fiber, and 0.09% fat. 100g of nopales will give you with 3.33 grams of carbohydrates. It is equal to 2.56 percent of the 130 grams of carbohydrates you need on a daily basis. That same in an amount measuring 100 grams (3.5 Oz), nopales provides 66 kilojoules (16 kilocalories) of energy and provides low amounts of essential nutrients, with only Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) having a good percentage (12.4%) of the Daily Value. This means that if you add nopales in your diet it will help your body to absorb iron from food and defend itself more naturally since vitamin C is an antioxidant, reduce probability of heart disease by fighting cholesterol, reduce the risk of anemia as this vitamin absorbs iron and will be effective against gout (a type of arthritis) attacks by reducing blood uric acid levelsdementia since vitamin C impacts memory positivelyhigh blood pressure. With this it contains a large amount of Manganese attaining 25.39% of the Daily Value in a 100 g (3.5 Oz).