Grilled Nopales Huaraches Recipes

GRILLED NOPALES HUARACHES

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Blend first 3 ingredients in blender just until blended. (Some chunks can remain.)
• Combine oil, oregano and cumin; brush onto cactus. Grill 8 min. or until tender, turning occasionally. Transfer to plate.
• Spread cactus with beans; top each with 1 Tbsp. tomatillo mixture. Cover with onions and cheese. Serve with remaining tomatillo mixture.

HUARACHES DE NOPAL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil on high heat and add nopales. Cook for about 5 minutes. Remove and rinse under cool water. Pat dry. Lightly score and smear coconut oil on each side of nopal. On a dry griddle on high heat, cook nopales in batches (don't overcrowd in pan). Cook each side for about 3-5 minutes or until nopales begin to blister slightly. Set aside.
• In a frying pan on medium heat, mash beans and cook until consistency of a loose paste, about 5 minutes.
• Place nopales on a serving platter. Spread a layer of beans on each and serve topped with slaw or lettuce, salsa, and cheese.
• Grill Option
• Use a gas grill or outdoor barbecue to cook whole raw nopal paddles: Rub paddles with oil to prevent sticking; scoring is not necessary. Grill nopal paddles about 7 minutes per side on medium high heat.

HUARACHES - STUFFED PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS PADDLES - STUFFED NOPALE

Steps:

• Place the whole cactus paddles, onion and garlic in a large pot with water to cover and salt to taste.
• Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes, or until the nopales are tender but still firm.
• Drain and rinse.
• Starting at the wide, curved end, carefully slice each paddle horizontally, as if butterflying a chop for stuffing.
• Do not cut all the way through to the narrow end (the thicker part where the pad is attached to the main plant) but leave approximately 1 1/2" uncut.
• Place a slice of cheese between the two sections and press flat.
• Dredge the paddles in flour.
• Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks, and fold in the lightly beaten egg yolks.
• Pour enough oil into large skillet so that it comes up at least 1/2 inch.
• Heat the oil until sizzling hot.
• Dip the stuffed nopales in the egg batter to coat and fry in the hot oil until golden brown on each side.
• Serve immediately with red salsa.

GRILLED NOPALES EN CHILE ROJO

Steps:

• Most markets sell nopales already despined and cleaned. If the paddles still have their spines, remove them: Hold a paddle by its stem and run a sharp knife along the skin, moving it away from you to scrape off spines. Then flip it over and repeat. Trim off the outer edges to remove any small spines, then cut off the stem. Repeat with all of the paddles. Rinse off the nopales, checking for any remaining spines and removing them. Pat dry. If cooking outdoors, prepare a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium-high.
• Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the chiles, tomatoes, garlic and a pinch of salt. Cover partially, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chiles have rehydrated and the garlic and tomatoes have softened, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While the chile mixture is simmering, grill the nopales. If cooking outdoors, place the nopales on the hot grate and grill, turning once, until pliable and slightly charred, about 10 minutes. If cooking indoors on a gas stove, turn the burners to medium-high heat and cook the nopales directly over the flame on the stove grates. Using heat-proof tongs and working in batches, place the nopales on the grates and move them around the flames until slightly charred, flipping once so they cook evenly, about 10 minutes. If using an electric stove, heat a comal or large pan over medium-high heat and lightly coat it with oil if you like. Cook, turning once, until evenly charred, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to cool.
• While the nopales cool, use a slotted spoon to transfer the rehydrated chiles, softened garlic and tomatoes to a blender or food processor with the cumin and 1 cup of the cooking water. Blend until completely smooth.
• Slice the cooled nopales into 1/4-inch-wide strips that are 2 to 3 inches long. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil, then add the sliced nopales and a couple pinches of salt. Stir every now and then until the nopales are tender, have released their slime and that slime has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the chile mixture. Mix well, then simmer until the sauce has slightly thickened and the flavors have married, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more salt as needed (remembering that you're garnishing with salt before serving).
• While the nopales are simmering in the sauce, heat the tortillas on the grill or on the stove grates' open flames until softened and lightly charred, about 1 minute per side. Stack and wrap them in a dish towel to keep them warm.
• Remove the nopales from the heat and top with the toasted pepitas, cilantro leaves and flaky sal de colima. Serve with the charred tortillas.

GRILLED STEAK HUARACHES RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• 1. In a bowl, add the masa harina, salt and garlic powder. Gradually add in the water until the masa dough forms. If it's too dry, add a little more water. Work in the oil. Make 6 equal size masa balls, cover with plastic and set aside for 20 minutes. 2. Season the strip steaks with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste on both sides. Drizzle with a little olive oil, set aside. Grill the steaks for 4 minutes per side on preheated grill pan. Remove from grill onto baking pan, tent loosely with foil paper and keep warm at low temperature in the oven. 3. While the steaks are cooking, preheat a comal or griddle pan to medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Take one masa ball and form it into an oval shape. Use a little water to wet the masa so it's easier to shape. Place the masa in between plastic or wax paper and using a tortilla press or rolling pin, gently press or roll out to extend the oval shape until it looks like a huarache. It should be about 7 inches in length or so. 4. Transfer to the hot comal and cook for about 30 seconds per side or until it comes loose from the comal, then you know it's ready to turn. Once you turn it, drizzle a little oil onto the huaraches so they start to crisp up. Turn after a 20 seconds and cook the other side for another 10 seconds. You don't want to leave them on too long or they will get tough. Top the huaraches with salsa, grated cheese, steak and your favorite garnishes.Yields 6 servings. Notes: For a variation, when making the masa balls, flatten it in the palm of your hand and add a couple of tablespoons of refried beans, fold the dough over the beans to cover and form into oval shape as instructed. The beans will kind of fuse right into the masa as it cooks. If preparing these for the first time, I would suggest making the huarache shells first and then just warming them right before serving. It makes things a lot easier.