Published: · Updated: by Mely Martínez
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Nopales and Diabetes: How does it help?
Grilled Cactus - Nopales Asados are a quick option for a meatless meal, top with a fresh Pico de gallo Salsa and your dinner is ready in minutes.
Studies have been done for years about the benefits of Nopales but must of them are published in Spanish. Still, there needs to be more done to have effective scientific evidence of its long-term effect.
Grilled Cactus-Nopales | Nopales Asados a la Plancha
In México it’s a popular belief that if you drink a Nopal-fruit juice drink first thing in the morning you will lower your glucose levels.Of course, the industry has taken advantage of this alternative to sell powders, bottled drinks, and pills since the people have not to doubt about its benefits and that it actually works for them. Nopales are also rich in calcium and high in fiber.
This is a cooking blog, I know that, but from time to time I receive emails from people asking me about other ways to cook nopales because they are eating them for medicinal reasons to lower their glucose levels. Like the email, I received from Maria C., where she says that a lovely old lady told her to eat grilled nopales first thing in the morning when she was told by her doctor that she had diabetes type 2. That was 5 years ago and she is doing great now. Thank you, Maria, for sharing your story with me.
It is not my intention to entertain you with all the details about the medical benefits of this cactus plant, but If you would like to learn more about the Nopales and diabetes studies, here is a series of links to research made by several Universities and well renowned Medical Institutions. They are in Spanish, please use your online translator.
Universidad Nacional de México, Mexican Institute of Health, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Universidad de Querétaro, Hospital IMSS de la Raza.
If you have never eaten nopales before, try adding them to stews like any other vegetable, made them with scrambled eggs for breakfast, stuffed with cheese and then covered with an egg batter and fry, they have a mild flavor that you will get used to enjoying it. Like this simple recipe that can also be prepared when grilling outside with your barbecue grill along with your steak as we do in some states in México. One nopal will be just enough for one person.
How to make Nopales Asados a la Plancha
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Instructions:
1. Warm your griddle or cast iron grill. Brush the oil on each side of the nopal.
2. Place the nopalitos on your griddle and cook over medium heat turning until tender, about 8 minutes.
3. If using a cast iron grill cook until marked and tender. Just before serving top with the slice of cheese to melt. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve with a fresh salsa and warm tortillas. A healthy, low-calorie dinner or lunch.
Enjoy!
Other recipes with Nopales:How to cook Nopales,Nopales with Eggs,Cactus Salad, andNopales with Chorizo.
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
📖 Recipe
Grilled Cactus Nopales
Mely Martínez
Grilled Cactus - Nopales Asados are a quick option for a meatless meal, top with a fresh Pico de gallo Salsa and your dinner is ready in minutes. Studies have been done for years about the benefits of Nopales but must of them are published in Spanish. Still.
4.50 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
0 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Basic Recipes
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 2
Calories 64 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 medium size nopales needles removed
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 slices of you favorite melting cheese optional
Instructions
Warm your griddle or cast iron pan
Brush the oil on each side of the nopal.
Place the nopales on your griddle and cook over medium-heat turning until tender, about 8 minutes.
If using a cast iron grill cook until marked and tender. Just before serving top with the slice of cheese to melt. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve with a fresh salsa and warm tortillas. A healthy, low-calorie dinner or lunch.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Grilled NopalCalories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 125mgPotassium: 4mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 13IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Robert Morrow
We live in south/eastern New Mexico and have Nopales grow in are yard. The are good like the Recipes, but also the fruit is great too. Taught some cooking classes for a non-profit people and taught how to prepare and cook Nopales.Reply
Mely Martínez
Hello Robert,
That is so good that you are sharing about Nopales. They are so versatile, we always have them handy in our kitchen.Reply
Gene Ware
Really enjoy your posts and recipes. The few I’ve made have been delicious. Do you have tips for cooking nopales, especially whole paddles, to minimize the “goo”?Reply
mmartinez
Hello Gene,
Please check the following link in how to cook Nopales. http://bit.ly/2YiY48yReply
Latricia Constantino
Hi I am looking for recipes to make nopales for a side or along with a main dish. I love trying new things! I have only had them with pico and I would live to learn different ways of making them please! Thank you!
Reply
Mamcita3b1g
Mely,
Can you tell me where to get these?
~Angelina 🙂Reply
Mely
Hello Angelina,
If you do not have a Latin Store close to where you live, you can buy them online fresh. Look for Cactus Leaves.
Reply
Elizabeth Diaz
Mely,
That is exactly how we eat Nopales in my family. My parents are from Zacatecas y somos muy nopaleros! Have you tried raw Nopales picados in pico de gallo with lime juice drizzled on top? It's absolutely delicious and refreshing. I love making them cuando asamos carne! Yum!
Lisa Diaz
Reply
Mely
Hello Elizabeth,
I heard about the raw nopales pico de gallo. I will have to try it.
Thanks for the tip.Mely
Reply
Pily
No soymucho de nopales !!! pero.......... así sí me los como Mely!!!
un beso... en ésta semana o pronto te llamo !! 😀Reply
MyCookingTime
Mmmmmpero qué delicia, me has antojado Mely!
Reply
Mely
Hola MyCookingTime,
Cone ste aclor se antojan, verdad?
Saludos,
Mely
Rebecca Subbiah
interesting Indian folks have a vegetable called kerala and they also say it lowers blood sugar
Reply
Mely
Hello Rebecca,
I would to know more about it. I hope you blog about soon.Mely
Reply
Nammi
Hi Mely, sorry havent visited you for a while. This is one thing that I always wanted to try but still havent :(. very interesting recipe :), have a nice day
Reply
Gabriela, clavo y canela
Que bueno Mely! me encanta esa presentación. Yo no como nopales, pero mi marido si, en casa no faltan y así asados en el desayuno le encantan 🙂
besitos
GabyReply
Chris
I never knew that about nopales, that is wild.
Reply
Mely
Hello Chris,
Yes, it is a wild thing!
Regards,
Mely
Reply
Diana Bauman
Mely, thanks for sharing this information. Diabetes run's in my fathers side of the family so I'll definitely be sharing this. Also, a nopales smoothie.. oh my, I'm definitely going to try it! Un abrazo fuerte!!!
Reply
Mely
Hola Diana,
Enjoy your little ones.
Mely
Reply
Diana Bauman
Mely, thanks for sharing this information. Diabetes run's in my fathers side of the family so I'll definitely be sharing this. Also, a nopales smoothie.. oh my, I'm definitely going to try it! Un abrazo fuerte!!!
Reply
Nora
Mely, qué buen reportaje. Los nopales son parte de mi despensa, nunca faltan en mi comida, Los hago en ensalada, guisados verdes, rojos, asados como los tuyos. Y en nuestras parrilladas los asamos al carbón, y como dices un nopal grande para cada uno, son tan sabrosos! Y el licuado, te dejo un enlace a mi blog, tal vez quieras enlazarme =)
Reply
Mely
Gracias por el enlace Nora,
Saludos,
Mely
Reply
Karen
Mmm, that looks so good!
Reply
Carmen
MELY, ME ENCANTAN LOS NOPALES. ESOS QUE HICISTE, CON OTRO NOPAL ARRIBA Y LUEGO CAPEADO LES DICEN POR ACÁ: INDITOS AL BALCÓN. SE OYE RE COTORRO PERO NO SE ME ANTOJAN CAPEADOS, A MÍ ME GUSTAN ASÍ COMO TÚ LOS HICISTE. INCLUSO SI LE EMBARRO FRIJOLIANOS.
UN ABRAZOTE MELY, SE FELIZ Y YO A TRATAR DE HACERLO, PESE A LOS ACONTECIMIENTOS EN ESTE PAÍS.Reply
Mely
Hola Carmen,
Feliz fin de semana, y gracias por la idea de los inditos al balcon. Sabes yo hago mas o menos asi los chayotes, primero los pono a cocer enteros, luego les pongo el queso y despues capeados y se sirven con bañados en salsa de tomate. Eso si, no se como se llama ese platillo. :))
Saludos,
Mely
Reply
Miz Helen
Hi Mely,
It is so good to see you today and what an interesting post. Your Grilled Cactus looks delicious, makes me want to try and find some so I can try the recipe. Hope you are having a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz HelenReply
Mely
Thank you Miz Hellen,
I for sure will be back.
Mely
Reply
Prieta
I love nopales Mely. This is actually a great post, with the epidemic of diabetics we are experiencing in the states, more then one person can benefit from the information you are sharing. Nopales are delicious food beside being good for you, they are easy to come along and they don't cost much. Your pictures look so tempting, yum!
Reply
Mely
You are right Prieta, Nopales are really affordable.
Have a great week!
Mely
Reply
Gloria
Hi Mely. Hope you are doing good. I love nopales and yes they are very good for you. Yours look delish. A smoothie I've never made out of nopales but you got me thinking about it. I am drinking green drinks right now but I'm not sure if I can do a nopal smoothie. Food for thought though. Nice to see you. Hope you had a wonderful holiday. Take care.
Reply
Mely
Hi Gloria,
Just give it a try, it is tasty and refreshing.
Glad to hear from you.
Mely
Reply
NORMA RUIZ
Me encantan los nopales son deliciosos, en casa siempre están presentes y ese smoothie que mencionas también lo he tomado es delicioso. Mely sobre lo que me preguntas en mi blog, el lavado de los moldes es muy fácil se lavan sin problema, pero aun no lo he probado con pan de levadura solo con galletas y no me dio problema. Besitos con cariño.
Reply
Mely
Gracias Norma por pasar a contestarme, lo voy a probar y lueog te platico.
Saludos,
Mely
Reply
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