Cactus fries
Cactus fries or nopalitos fritos is a side dish originating in the Southwestern United States, made of battered and deep-fried prickly pear paddles or nopales .
History
[edit ]Cactus fries are an americanized dish that uses traditional Mexican ingredients.[1] The dish is strongly associated with the cuisine of the Southwestern United States,[2] where prickly pear is commonly eaten, and particularly in Texas and New Mexico, where Tex-Mex and New Mexican cuisine has developed.[1]
Preparation
[edit ]Cactus fries are prepared from nopales , the young segments or "paddles" of the prickly pear cactus.[3] [4] Before consumption, the needles and "eyes" are removed from the nopales, typically by scrubbing and rinsing them off,[5] cutting them out or burning them.[4] [6] Store-bought nopales typically have most of their needles removed prior to sale.[3] [4] The segments are then sliced and dredged in a cornmeal and egg-white batter that has been seasoned with achiote paste before deep frying.[7] [8] Other variations use cactus that has been coated in seasoned breadcrumbs[2] or cracker crumbs.[9]
The cactus is coated with mucilage [4] that gives it a slimy texture when cooked.[1] This makes it easier for batter to stick to the cactus, although the texture is considered unpleasant by some.[3] [4] Some recipes call for marinating or boiling the prickly pear segments before battering.[7] [10]
Cactus fries have a crunchy exterior and a silky interior, which has been compared to that of fried okra and onion rings.[10] [11] The flavor of the cactus itself has been compared to asparagus or bell peppers.[12] They are frequently served with a dipping sauce, such as salsa,[5] ranch dressing, or spicy ketchup.[7] [10]
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Prickly pear cactus
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Prickly pear fruit
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Gathered prickly pears
See also
[edit ]
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c Zeitz, Alexandra (2018). We Eat What? A Cultural Encyclopedia of Unusual Foods in the United States. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 979-8-216-16380-0.
- ^ a b Olito, Frank. "13 things that only exist in the Southwest". Insider. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ a b c "13 Tips You Need When Cooking With Nopales". Tasting Table. 2022年12月10日. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ a b c d e "This Is The Right Way To Eat Cactus Without Getting Poked". Mashed. 2023年01月09日. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ a b "Palate Pleasing Prickly Pears – Wrightsville Beach Magazine". wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ mollypaul. "Cactus Fries (Nopalitos Fritos) Recipe - Food.com". www.food.com. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ a b c McKey, Nola (2010年07月22日). Cooking with Texas Highways. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-78816-9.
- ^ "Cactus Fries Recipe | Side Dish Recipes". PBS Food. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ "Fried Cactus Strips". Taste of Home. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ a b c "Recipe: Nopal (Cactus) Fries and Chipotle Ketchup". San Antonio Express-News. 2019年04月10日. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ Kong-DeVito, Mary (2013年10月25日). "Are You Gonna Eat That? Cactus Fries at Casa Oaxaca". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2023年06月30日.
- ^ Watts, Linda S.; Clark-Mahoney, Kelty (2022年08月23日). Food and World Culture: Issues, Impacts, and Ingredients [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-4408-7000-2.