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Nopales navegantes
Cactus in chilli broth with eggs
Nopales navegantes: 'sailing' cactus strips in tomato-chilli broth with eggs poached on top, central Mexico
The name means 'sailing cactus', for the strips of nopal floating in a light red broth, and the dish is a standby of Lent in Hidalgo and the State of Mexico, when cooks want something warming and meatless. Eggs are cracked straight into the simmering caldo to poach, and the bowl is finished with fresh cheese, coriander and lime. It is light, cheap and ready in about forty minutes. Use a vegetarian cheese if you avoid animal rennet. Chef's tip: boil the nopales separately first and rinse well, so their slippery juice doesn't thicken the broth.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 nopal cactus paddlesspines removed, cut into strips
- 2 dried guajillo chilliesstemmed, seeded and soaked
- ½ white onionchopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 ¼ cups vegetable stock
- 1 sprig epazote or coriander
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 ⅛ oz queso fresco or vegetarian feta (optional)crumbled
- 1 limecut in wedges
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (6)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Boil the 4 nopal cactus paddles in salted water for 8–10 minutes until olive green. Drain and rinse under cold water until no longer slimy.
12 minStep 2: Blend the 4 ripe tomatoes, drained 2 dried guajillo chillies, half the ¼ white onion and the 2 cloves garlic until smooth.
3 minStep 3: Heat the 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pot over a medium heat, soften the rest of the ¼ white onion for 4 minutes, then pour in the purée and fry 5 minutes until it darkens. Add the 4 ¼ cups vegetable stock, 1 sprig epazote or coriander and 1 tsp salt and simmer 5 minutes.
15 minStep 4: Add the nopales. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and crack in the 4 eggs one at a time, spaced apart. Cover and cook 4–5 minutes until the whites are set and opaque and the yolks cooked to your liking. A common mistake is a fast boil, which shreds the eggs into the broth.
5 minStep 5: Ladle an egg and broth into each bowl and top with 2 ⅛ oz queso fresco or vegetarian feta and a squeeze of 1 lime.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nopales navegantes take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
- What can I use instead of white onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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