Nopales Rancheros (Cactus in Ranchera Sauce)
Tender cactus strips stewed with onion and chunky ranchera sauce, a traditional vegan taco filling or side.
Made with Salsa ranchera and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.75 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Drain the cactus strips and rinse them very well under cold water until they no longer feel slimy. Pat dry.
- 2
Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 4 minutes until soft. Add the garlic for 30 seconds.
4 min - 3
Add the cactus and cook for 3 minutes.
3 min - 4
Pour in your ready made salsa ranchera (see the base recipe) and simmer for 8 minutes, until thick and the cactus is tender.
8 min - 5
Warm your ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan.
- 6
Serve the nopales with the coriander, lime wedges and tortillas.
Tips
- Rinsing well is the key step, as the brine can taste very salty.
- Fresh nopales need their spines removed and boiling first, so jarred is the easy route.
- Use trimmed green beans if you cannot find cactus.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours. Keep in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot.
Questions
What does cactus taste like?
Mildly tart and a little like green beans, with a soft, slightly slippery texture, which rinsing reduces.
Where do I buy nopales?
Jarred or tinned nopalitos are sold in Mexican and Latin American shops and online.
More made with salsa ranchera
Sopes con Frijoles y Salsa Ranchera (Thick Corn Cakes with Beans)
GFEFNFChuletas de Cerdo en Salsa Ranchera con Arroz (Pork Chops in Ranchera Sauce)
GFDFEFPapas Fritas con Chile y Queso (Chilli Cheese Fries with Salsa Ranchera)
GFEFNFPizzas de Tortilla Mexicanas (Crisp Tortilla Pizzas with Salsa Ranchera)
EFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.