Tostadas de Nopales y Frijol Negro (Cactus and Black Bean Tostadas)
Lemony nopales cactus strips and creamy black beans on crisp tostadas topped with guacamole.
Made with Classic guacamole and Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Mexican black beans. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.46 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 under cold water until the brine slime is gone. Cut into small strips. If using green beans, boil for 4 minutes and chop.
4 min - 2
Warm your ready made black beans (see the base recipe) in a pan for 4 minutes, stirring, until thick and steaming hot. Mash roughly.
4 min - 3
Mix the nopales with the onion, tomato, jalapeño, lime juice, coriander and a pinch of salt.
- 4
Spread each tostada (see the base recipe) with a spoonful of beans.
- 5
Add the nopales salad and finish with a spoonful of your ready made classic guacamole (see the base recipe).
- 6
Serve straight away so the tostadas stay crunchy.
Tips
- Rinse nopales really well. They are sold in brine and can be slimy and salty straight from the jar.
- Use the bean broth to loosen the mash if it gets too thick to spread.
- Nopales have a fresh, green, slightly tart flavour similar to green beans with a hint of okra.
Storing and freezing
Keep the nopales salad and beans separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Build the tostadas just before eating.
Questions
Where can I buy nopales in the UK?
Look for jars or tins of nopales in brine in Latin food shops and online. Green beans or sliced asparagus are good fresh substitutes.
Are nopales safe to eat?
Yes, they are edible cactus pads, widely eaten in Mexico. Jarred ones are already cleaned and cooked.
Is this dish vegan?
Yes. It uses only plant ingredients, and the tostadas are made from corn.
More made with classic guacamole
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.