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Sopa de Nopales — Cactus Paddle Soup

Sopa de Nopales

Cactus Paddle Soup

Cactus paddles are sweated in a dry skillet first to cook off their sticky liquid before joining a roasted tomato broth brightened with cilantro and lime.

50 min
Serves 6
Family Recipe
Focus

✦ Antes de Empezar

Before you cook

Why does the recipe cook the nopales in a dry skillet before adding them to the soup?

Nopales release a slick, mucilaginous liquid as they cook. Sweating them, covered, in a dry skillet with a pinch of salt lets that liquid come out and evaporate — draining off any extra — so it doesn't make the finished soup slimy.

Ingredientes· 9
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Cactus Base

  • 4 mediumFresh Cactus Paddles (Nopales)cleaned of thorns, sliced into strips

Guajillo-Tomato Broth

  • 3 mediumRoma Tomatoesboiled
  • 2Dried Guajillo Chilesstems/seeds removed, boiled
  • 1/2 onion + 2 cloves garlicWhite Onion & Garlic
  • 5 cupsChicken Broth (or Vegetable)
  • 1/2 tspDried Mexican Oregano
  • 1/4 cupFresh Cilantrochopped
  • 1 tbspVegetable Oil
  • to tasteSalt

Instrucciones

6 pasos
  1. Cocina los nopales

    Cook the nopales

    Cook the nopales in a covered dry skillet with a pinch of salt until their liquid releases and evaporates; drain if necessary.

  2. Licúa el jitomate

    Blend the tomato

    Blend the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and 1 cup of broth.

  3. Fríe el puré

    Fry the purée

    Fry the purée in oil for 7 minutes.

  4. Agrega el caldo

    Add the broth

    Add the remaining broth and the nopales and simmer for 12 minutes.

  5. Agrega cilantro

    Add the cilantro

    Stir in the cilantro at the end and adjust the salt.

  6. Sirve

    Serve

    Serve with cheese and lime.