Re: [CH] Nopalitos?
The Old Bear (oldbear@arctos.com)
Mon, 30 Mar 1998 04:50:43 -0500
In Chile-Heads Digest, v. 4 no. 362, you wrote:
>Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 23:17:57 +0000
>From: Paul Richards <paular@zoo.co.uk>
>Subject: [CH] Nopalitos?
>
>Now for my next question;
>
>While browsing through some Mexican recipe's, I came across a
>requirement for "one can or bottle of Nopalitos". There is no other
>mention of them in the book, so can somebody please tell me what
>they are? Not that it will be much use, as they will no doubt turn
>out to be as hard to find as tomatillo's over here in the UK.
>(Actually, if any UK CH's have any info on that I would be greatful).
>
>Thanks
>Paul
They're cactus "leaves" -- usually cut into a julienne, i.e. strips
about 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm x 4 cm -- which are sold in tins or in glass
jars in Mexican food shops.
I live in the Boston area and they are somewhat difficult to find
here, although some gourmet shops and ethnic grocers have them.
When I lived in San Francisco, they were just another food item to
be found among the tins of refried beans and taco sauce in the
supermarket.
See the Embassa food company web site at:
URL: < http://www.embasa.com >
and particulary the phortograph and description of nopalitos at:
URL: < http://www.embasa.com/mspecial.html >
This photo shows the julienne slices of nopalitos which come in the
tin, with a background of the cactus leaves from which they are cut.
The tins do *not* include the prickly uncut cactus leaves.
Cheers,
The Old Bear