Tacos de Chorizo con Nopales (Chorizo and Cactus Tacos)
Tangy strips of cactus paddle cooked with chorizo and onion, piled into warm corn tortillas with salsa verde.
Made with Salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa) and Corn tortillas from masa harina and Homemade Mexican chorizo. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.23 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 nopales and rinse them well in cold water until the slippery liquid is gone. Pat dry and cut into 1 cm strips.
- 2
Cook your homemade Mexican chorizo (see the base recipe) in a cold pan for 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through.
8 min - 3
Push the chorizo aside. Add the oil, onion and nopales to the fat and fry for 6 minutes until the cactus is tender and turning golden.
6 min - 4
Add the tomato for 2 minutes, then mix the chorizo through.
- 5
Warm the corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 30 seconds each side.
- 6
Fill the tortillas, spoon over your salsa verde (see the base recipe) and scatter with coriander. Serve with lime.
Tips
- Rinse jarred nopales thoroughly and fry them until dry. This removes the slippery texture.
- Fresh nopales are sold in Mexican shops. Scrape off the spines before cooking.
- Add a squeeze of lime at the table to cut through the rich chorizo.
Storing and freezing
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days once cooled within 2 hours. Reheat in a frying pan until steaming hot all the way through. Freezes for up to 2 months.
Questions
What do nopales taste like?
Nopales are cactus paddles with a tangy, green bean like flavour and a slightly slippery texture. Frying them well makes them firm and savoury.
Where can I buy nopales in the UK?
Jarred nopalitos in brine are sold in Mexican food shops and online. Courgette or green beans make a fair substitute.
Is it dairy free?
Yes, as written. There is no cheese, so it is dairy free, gluten free, egg free and nut free.
More made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Tacos de Chicharron en Salsa Verde (Pork Crackling in Green Salsa Tacos)
EFNFTacos Dorados de Pollo Asado (Crispy Rolled Chicken Tacos)
GFEFNFQuesadillas de Champiñones con Salsa Verde (Mushroom Quesadillas)
EFNFChiles Rellenos de Queso en Salsa Verde (Cheese Stuffed Poblanos)
NFVSee every dish made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Double 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.