Tacos de Nopales Asados (Griddled Cactus Tacos)
Tender strips of nopal cactus griddled with onion and garlic, a classic vegan taco filling topped with pico de gallo and avocado.
Made with Fresh pico de gallo 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 £0.76 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
Tip the nopales into a sieve and rinse very well under cold running water for 1 minute to remove the brine and any slime. Drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.
- 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the onion for 4 minutes until soft and golden at the edges. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
4 min 30 s - 3
Add the nopales and oregano. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until the strips are tender and any liquid has cooked off. Season with salt and a squeeze of lime.
10 min - 4
Warm the tortillas one at a time in a dry pan for 30 seconds on each side until soft. Keep them wrapped in a tea towel.
1 min - 5
Spoon the nopales into the tortillas. Top with avocado and your ready made pico de gallo (see the base recipe). Serve with lime wedges.
Tips
- Rinse jarred nopales thoroughly. The brine is salty and the strips can feel slimy until washed and fried.
- Let any liquid cook right off in the pan. This is what gives the slightly charred, tender-crisp texture.
- Add a pinch of ground cumin or a sliced fresh chilli to the onion for extra depth.
Storing and freezing
Cooked nopales keep in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container. Reheat in a pan until steaming hot. Do not freeze.
Questions
What do nopales taste like?
Nopales, the pads of the prickly pear cactus, taste lightly tart and green, a bit like green beans crossed with okra. Rinsed and fried, they have a pleasant tender bite with only a little of the natural sliminess.
Where can I buy nopales in the UK?
Jarred or tinned nopalitos are sold in Mexican and Latin American food shops and online, and some larger supermarkets stock them in the world foods aisle. Always drain and rinse them well.
Are these tacos vegan?
Yes. Nopales, onion, avocado, corn tortillas and pico de gallo are all plant based, so the tacos are vegan, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
More made with fresh pico de gallo
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.