I may have found my new favorite taco topping in Mexico City

I may have found my new favorite taco topping in Mexico City | Nopales.

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4 жыл бұрын

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When spending time in Mexico City, a common ingredient you will see in a variety of dishes is nopales or prickly pear cactus leaves. One of the favorite ways I've had nopales is as a topping for taco. Today, I'm going to visit the market for another taste and then see if I can recreate them in the kitchen for all of you.
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Пікірлер: 161

@saberraider 4 жыл бұрын

oh, and the word for sauté is "saltear", the slang word for it is "sancochar"

@PimpolloMorales 3 жыл бұрын

There's a lot of words for sauté, in Puerto Rico we say sofreír ☺️

@rajavlitra 3 жыл бұрын

guisa

@SolarizeYourLife 3 жыл бұрын

Google translate says sancochar is Parboil...

@donovanb9020 2 жыл бұрын

@@SolarizeYourLife Google Translate also literally translates "que rollo" although it's just another way to say "what's up?"

@carolinalomeli9128 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Ethan, You've earned my respect for educating yourself on the Mexican food culture. You are not just another KZfaqr. 👏

@saberraider 4 жыл бұрын

so glad you liked nopales!, make sure to cook them in pure salt. cut them thinly and douse em in salt, let them rest for 20 minutes and wash salt and slime. mix them with cilantro, raw onion, jalapeño, tomato and lime juice. throw a little avocado if you want and put it all on a corn tortilla with chicharron!

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

Of course! I just had a nopales preparation like the one you described today with some barbacoa, it seems there are different variations. All delicious though!

@zahl6518 4 жыл бұрын

There are a lot of cooking channels but a few are so simplistic and amazing and show variety and display more common foods that arent 12450$. Also some really cool unique foods

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

I think that sums it up quite nicely. The majority of cooking I like to do is just taking simple ingredients and preparing them well with basic techniques, I hope that comes across in the videos!

@s.leemccauley7302 3 жыл бұрын

@@EthanChlebowski it does. I dislike the ones that get too complex. I want good food but don't care to spend lots if time or money on food that is ni better tasting in the end. Thanks

@PapaBearCDXX 4 жыл бұрын

Definitely going to try this one. I keep a jar of pickled onions in the fridge because of this channel and I know this will be another favorite. Tacos and “dime bags of oregano”... truly a man after my own heart.

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

That's what I like to hear! It's a quite an interesting topping. I want to try it out on some non mexican foods when I get back.

@smurfaccount2162 Жыл бұрын

@@EthanChlebowski so how did it turn out?

@dylanjones3497 3 жыл бұрын

Mexicano viviendo en Israel intentando de acordarse de México haciendo estos tacos. Gracias por la receta.

@mmkjijhuks1841 4 жыл бұрын

Nopales are delicious 😋

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

I fully agree!

@ArmandoDy 3 жыл бұрын

Ethan make them with eggs and red chile powder. Just cut the nopales into small squares. For 3 cactus pads use about 12 eggs. Half an onion, chopped cilantro, and also sprinkle on some black pepper,along with the red chile powder to taste. Spice up the cactus pads first, and when they're about done, add the eggs into the pan. Now those make great tacos. Also heat up your corn tortillas in a tiny amount of oil. They'll be more flexible and tastier. Before you eat the taco pour on some green El Yucateco Habanero hot sauce. Just cut half the small bottle, with half apple cider vinegar. Yes pour out half the sauce, and add vinegar to it. You can make 2 bottles from 1, and will be super tasty, but not so hot. Great video.👍😉🌵🌵🌵

@beangie 3 жыл бұрын

Pro Tip: Before Saute or frying the Nopales, you should BOIL them to remove the goop xD, you boil them with a tablespoon of salt and 1 of baking soda for 5-10 min, and drain them, they should be a little on the olive green or darker color you can rinse them and then you can fry them, so you won't get that mess on the oil

@daniwastaken 3 жыл бұрын

Me, watching him try to clean the nopales one thorn at a time: ¡Güero, no! Nomás hazle así con el cuchillo ira *kij kij kij kij* A for effort and enthusiasm tho

@vanessativa2418 3 жыл бұрын

Lol I love you

@AlfonsoVallarta 3 жыл бұрын

Qué pinches bello comentario. 😂 Listen to this woman, mate. That's how you do it.

@mikebevan1034 2 жыл бұрын

How are you supposed to do it?

@tvbox6955 4 жыл бұрын

No-PA-LES (PA, as in Papa and LES as in less), not nopoles!

@subhasish-m 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, this was annoying me

@appletv7097 3 жыл бұрын

In Spanish the vowels always make the same sound. A-Ah, E-eh, I-ee, O-oh, U-oo. For someone living in Mexico, I wasn’t expecting him to butcher the pronunciation.

@shepardice3775 3 жыл бұрын

i barely speak Spanish and this pissed me off incredibly. Wonder how the locals took to his accent if that's how he pronounced things.

@jeszuni8518 3 жыл бұрын

The fact that he's trying is enough for me. 👍

@greatnortherntroll6841 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah. I was cringing every time he said it, but at least he's a white boy who's willing to embrace other cultures and the foods to go along with 'em... even if he slaughtered the pronunciation of Nopales! 🤣

@ninaquas_7401 4 жыл бұрын

"Noepuhlayz"

@jlopez47 3 жыл бұрын

It turned into "Nah-pohlays" later into the video

@standingoffthecorner 2 жыл бұрын

@@jlopez47 thank christ

@UrielAvalosjr 2 жыл бұрын

I love the cute way you say no-poles.

@alfonso6496 4 жыл бұрын

Great job! My mom also likes to scramble them into eggs & will also make costillas en salsa roja (ribs in red sauce) with them. Another common preparation is grilled, and even raw as a salad.

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

Love it. That costilla recipe sounds awesome, what type of chile do you use?

@alfonso6496 4 жыл бұрын

@@EthanChlebowski She uses dried serranos (for heat) and ancho or pasilla (or really, just about any other - she says "whichever you like"). Sometimes trying to get an ingredient list from her is an interesting endeavor 😂

@judithburke1539 3 жыл бұрын

I saw the blip about cactus snot and busted up laughing!!! That's on point. 😄😃😀

@greatnortherntroll6841 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah... that stuff is Nasty, Wicked Gooey! 🤣

@csrt417 2 жыл бұрын

This looks is so good. I want to try this

@marieguterman515 3 жыл бұрын

Ethan, I have a jar of that vegetable in my fridge but didn't know what to do with them but now I do! Thanks!

@samishaniyy 3 жыл бұрын

Wow in my town this cactus grows everywhere but we only eat the fruits I should try cooking the cactus itself

@SolarizeYourLife 3 жыл бұрын

I was in Panama city beach they it grows everywhere and NO ONE uses the fruit or nopales!!! I had the run of the city for the fruit.... Even the local donut shop refused to make jelly for the donuts!! 🤷🙈

@StephanieLeighG 3 жыл бұрын

Every time I’ve eaten cactus I thought it was pickled or at least marinated in some kind of acidic sauce. This is like a kid learning that pickles don’t just grow that way, except the exact opposite. Cactus is really great, especially if your already used to “slimy” vegetables like okra.

@josephramon8589 4 жыл бұрын

Try nopales con huevo. Eggs and cactus super good.

@nmmeswey3584 3 жыл бұрын

^ this, especially in huevos poblanos

@s.leemccauley7302 3 жыл бұрын

Y con black beans like a tostada. Or even. Refried pinto beans. Great filling combos.

@etherdog 4 жыл бұрын

REALLY interesting about the flavor of the nopales and the cooking of them, Ethan. Great explanation and demonstration. But maybe you should feature cerveza instead of soda :-)

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

Definitely a unique ingredient, ton of flavor. Thanks John!

@TheDeathmail 3 жыл бұрын

Sokka would like this....

@juliocesarzermenolotina3708 10 ай бұрын

Nopales in red guajillo, ancho, arbol sauce is the best 🇲🇽🎉

@LuNa4Death 4 жыл бұрын

Yt algorithm brought me to your channel (mini baguettes vid) and gotta say your enthusiasm for exploring and recreating food is great! Subbed! 😊

@letsdothis6274 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Ethan, it's best to cook/boil the diced or sliced nopales in water/salt/few cloves of garlic for 15-20 min. discard the water/garlic, to get rid of the sliminess, then fry or cook it in the chile de Arbol infused oil. Also, in the International aisle of your local SuperM. or the Latino/Mexican Super M. you can find the Nopales fresh in bags in the produce section, whole or cut/sliced, in addition, they sell it in jars, cooked, in brine. Rinse in a colander before using, and cook it with your scrambled eggs, or add to ground beef and sauce, delicious.

@anthonylopezgallegos2682 3 жыл бұрын

no pa les (accent on the second syllable) nopal (singular) nopales (plural)

@maryannlarsen1727 3 жыл бұрын

You can use a knife to scrape off the thorns then boil your cut up nopales with onion garlic salt until tender then rinse really good afterwards you sauteed with other flavors that you like. On the quick side you can also buy a bag that's already cut up or use the jar kinds

@scottmathes3647 3 жыл бұрын

My wife introduced me to Nopales, and it's one of my favorites, even alone in a tortilla.

@carolinalomeli9128 3 жыл бұрын

No- pa- les! So good and good for you!

@9114utube 3 жыл бұрын

This vid deserves more views 📺

@josemartinez-kd3dr 4 жыл бұрын

Mmmmm i want some

@9114utube 3 жыл бұрын

Wow good vid. Learned more than my own Mex family, can't wait to try 🌵 Also, this dish/topping is VERY underappreciated because people can't do it correctly (slimy part) but, if done correctly, it's a really good compliment with other food like eggs, steaks etc. And it is "Super healthy." Thanks for vid 👍 🇺🇸+🇲🇽

@adrianaangelcoria1248 4 жыл бұрын

I always cook them first. I add salt and some onion and then I prepare a salad.

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

I've seen them cooked whole first too when used for tacos. It seems like no matter which method, making sure the slime cooks off is the key.

@s.leemccauley7302 3 жыл бұрын

@@EthanChlebowski they make great poultices when heated. Wounds of all sorts. Just peel one side. Sucks infection out dang well.

@lizcerezo138 4 жыл бұрын

You can add at the end a spone of olive oil, it goes very well with the nopales.

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

I could totally see that.

@eneasgascaleon8564 3 жыл бұрын

If you don’t like the nopal’s slime add a green tomato shell /leaves when you are cooking the nopales

@victormalagon5172 3 жыл бұрын

I enjoyed this video so much my mouth was watering. You should try taco de nopales with queso fresco and chile de molcajete.

@Xixo 3 жыл бұрын

You could put the salt with the nopales first (that way they drain more slime and it dries with the heat) and use less oil, also you could put a pinch of goat cheese or another similar cheese after cooked, good video made me hungry

@Tino81295 3 жыл бұрын

That is one mean ned flanders moustache you got going on there. Once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it

@aguirrn 3 жыл бұрын

Nopales!! My mom grows those in her backyard! She use to sell them

@gregorsamsa1364 Жыл бұрын

My dad used to sell the stuff he grew in the backyard

@s.leemccauley7302 3 жыл бұрын

You can grow your own .Luther Burbank developed one that doesn't have all of those spines to poke ta with. Good food still.

@gregvaughntx Жыл бұрын

I love your channel and I'm playing catch-up, and I'm so jealous of your food adventures in Mexico City, but I grew up in South Texas and love nopales and it hurts to hear you pronounce the word 😀. In Spanish, if there's no written accent, then the 2nd to last syllable is emphasized. The "PA" has the stress. Also, they are amazing when pickled. I have a lacto-fermented relish I make with nopales, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, corn, and jicama that I keep in my fridge and it goes on all sorts of Mexican dishes.

@natashaancalade6054 4 жыл бұрын

I’m vegan and can’t wait to give this try! I get stuck in a rut sometimes when it comes to meals and this is so different from what I usually make :) Thanks for the ideas!

@ds541015 3 жыл бұрын

Felicidades! ...Congrats!....try it with string cheese ( Oaxaca or mozzarella ) in tacos!

@dylanjones3497 4 жыл бұрын

Literal fui a ese mercado hace 5 meses

@stiltz86 3 жыл бұрын

i thought i was exotic ordering a tortilla press with some lime treated corn 2 weeks ago. Now i'm looking for cactus leaves. rad channel

@rullmourn1142 3 жыл бұрын

They are at their most tender and juicy in the spring.

@markiangooley 3 жыл бұрын

I keep being told that there are spineless varieties of prickly pear that are easier to use for this, but I haven’t seen any at grocery stores. Usually I buy the preserved ones in jars because I’m lazy...

@c4n4d4 3 жыл бұрын

Your spanish accent is on point

@santodeportes5946 3 жыл бұрын

Nopales are a staple in Sonora

@SolarizeYourLife 3 жыл бұрын

They actually boil the cactus to cook then rinse to rid the slime (some do it twice), then fry them...

@Robutube1 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Ethan - I've just found your channel so I'm on a bit of a binge watch right now. What I really like is that it all feels genuine when you cook because you include the mistakes and mess we all make; that only makes me trust your recipes more. I also like the way you credit the hard working cooks you stumble across and who let you film them. Subbed! When the situation allows it again, I'd recommend exploring the regional cuisines of Spain too (different to that of Mexico); they're robust, tasty dishes and unfairly overshadowed by their French and Italian neighbours.

@Twisted_Logic 4 жыл бұрын

I love nopales. They're like bell peppers but better

@suburbanyute340 4 жыл бұрын

1 that looks freaking delicious, 2 have you tried the cured egg yolk thing that's all the rage right now? haven't tried it yet but i got a couple going in the fridge, 3 have you seen them use any fermented stuff in taco's because that seems like it could be a pretty awesome idea.

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

1. It is delicious! 2. I haven't tried it myself yet, I want to use a cured egg yolk in carbonara though 3. I haven't seen any true fermented toppings on tacos. Most of the pickled things are with vinegar / lime juice. I agree its a great idea though!

@PapaBearCDXX 4 жыл бұрын

Fermented ingredients in tacos does indeed sound awesome.

@yadimagic 3 жыл бұрын

you can ask for nopales without thorns in the market. In the supermarket are already sliced. There's a lot of recipies for cactus. Enjoy

@ezragonzalez8936 Жыл бұрын

Sautee is Salteado Salt -tee- ah -dough in Spanish

@shadebug 2 жыл бұрын

I realise this is a year old but imma give you a quick hack for pronouncing Spanish: If there’s no accent, stress the second to last syllable. Otherwise stress the accent. That rule will get you through reading the vast majority of Spanish words. This one gets you through the rest: Unless the word ends in a vowel, N or S. Then you stress the last syllable. You can now read any Spanish word that’s been spelt correctly

@luyzqint3760 4 жыл бұрын

Orégano, right. That's what they all say.✌️😜

@arciniega88 3 жыл бұрын

If you boiled them first it’s easier. You get rid of the slime.

@MrStrigori 3 жыл бұрын

Dunno about Mexican Bayleafs but i heard from alot of people that the "normal" bayleafs in the us are usually much less intense than the ones here in europe. Maybe its similar for mexico

@greatnortherntroll6841 3 жыл бұрын

The problem is that they tend to sell really desiccated old leaves at most markets in the U.S. So few people here actually know how much more pungent/vibrant the fresher leaves are. If you can get the fresher ones, you're golden!

@sallyliali7813 Жыл бұрын

Can you use olive oil ?

@gusale2653 4 жыл бұрын

Chile de arbol was not fried before, these are dried only, normaly air or sun dry, before they are used, they do not fry per say, just little bit of oil and put them on the pan, and turn them several times, just to get darker, but not much, so please do not fry them, we call "tatemado" only , great work with your videos.

@vanessativa2418 3 жыл бұрын

I prefer the pickled version. Nopales en vinagre

@sandragrant8271 3 жыл бұрын

Nope to the cactus. Can't the slime be rinsed off first? But I love your channel, I love mexican food! Another good job.

@amandaximena 3 жыл бұрын

You can boil the first and then rinse them. That will get right of most if nothing all if the goo.

@Blake-ky2le 4 жыл бұрын

no dislikes, that's a good sign

@MightyMase04 3 жыл бұрын

Somebody did it

@avemaria3673 4 жыл бұрын

The nopales needs way less water and onion. That amount of onion I could use for a kilogram of Nopales. The more water you add the more "saliva" (sort of speak) the nopales will have

@avemaria3673 4 жыл бұрын

Also, nopales are sell with or without their thorns, with thorns are cheaper. Next time you should ask for "Nopales limpios o nopales sin espinas" Fun fact: the nopales are in our national flag , those delicious leaves are within us.

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

I figured they were cheaper, good to know on the spanish, thanks!

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

There wasn’t any water added. Only to clean the nopales. I prefer more onion in mine, that’s what’s great about cooking we can cook to our preference!

@moi712 3 жыл бұрын

Not easy to find nopales in the states you say? Just come to my house, theres a lot in my backyard and front yard. 😂 Also did u know the fruit that grows on the nopales is good too? My parents call them tunas. Idk if thats the right word or if its slang.

@amandaximena 3 жыл бұрын

That’s what they are called.

@Fierrow 3 жыл бұрын

use alot of salt and let them sit got 15 mins n all the sticky water comes out of them, and jus strain the water out of it

@TheSpiralAim 3 жыл бұрын

How did those glochids feel? You were rubbin all up on them.

@the80sdumpster Жыл бұрын

Nopuhlays

@gonzalezjosec2004 3 жыл бұрын

"Nope-less" yuummm "NO-Pole-s"

@sallyliali7813 Жыл бұрын

The office

@davidalmaraz859 3 жыл бұрын

It’s Noh-paul-les. And you say your Mexican? Wait, your Canelo Alvarez right? Wait, your making Mexican food? What happened to your boxing career? Fight Charlo! Side note: Cutting the cactus into strips that a U-shape peeler can cut the pricklies off in a swipe will cut down prep time! After cutting the cactus, salting the cut pieces and letting them rest for at least 20 minutes will help remove moisture which will remove the sliminess. Wash with cold water and they are great in a salad! Fight Charlo!

@itz_bobsterz 2 жыл бұрын

No Paul es not whatever you said lol

@aryeknaani6192 4 жыл бұрын

noPAles

@michaelbalfour3170 4 жыл бұрын

Are you making a pun or trying to correct his pronunciation?

@aryeknaani6192 4 жыл бұрын

@@michaelbalfour3170 how is this a pun

@marcontreras 4 жыл бұрын

I think it is not topping, it is taco stuffing 🌮

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

This carnitas place where I had it left it in a small bowl on the table for a topping. You could use it for a filling too though. I have plenty of nopales tacos in my time in cdmx.

@kevinmartinez1886 3 жыл бұрын

Hahah como cuando no sabes limpiar nopales y vez un tutorial de cómo limpiarlos omg

@elgrandisimojoe 3 жыл бұрын

noH - PAAHH - lehs

@theindividualchef 3 жыл бұрын

NO PAA LES

@JeffreyD 4 жыл бұрын

Pronunciation tip: Nopales = No PAW Lays.

@punkchris 4 жыл бұрын

the pronunciation is closer to “no-Pah-lez”, but its fine since his pronunciation is close enough to know what hes talking about

@septane 3 жыл бұрын

no-PA-lays FFS Ethan

@dadmom2563 3 жыл бұрын

No pol les

@Le_Petomane 2 жыл бұрын

Its not no-per-lays is NO-PAH-LEHS.

@mesmer1218 3 жыл бұрын

It’s pronounced No-Pal-Ez.

@TheTrillestOne 3 жыл бұрын

noPALes

@dinafernandez897 3 жыл бұрын

May I correct you? They are called Nopales, and so you uneed to say no-pa-les . Gracias por el video.

@merlynseattle Жыл бұрын

It is NOPALES, not napoles

@Gagakki 3 жыл бұрын

No-pa-less Nopales Not no-pul-es

@danielv2k11p2fo 3 жыл бұрын

I guess that’s one way to pronounce nopales.

@theoneandonlyyoko 4 жыл бұрын

Hey men, your camera is going to get stolen! Don’t leave it there

@mayorbeetlejuice4841 3 жыл бұрын

4:45 are you sure you didn’t buy those from a drug dealer. They look like weed.

@nekkomemes3647 3 жыл бұрын

Ew, nopales are my least favorite food, but my moms favorite

@cliffordbradford8910 3 жыл бұрын

OK, his pronunciation of "nopales" is going to hurt my ears for this whole video. Also it would be great if you could have gotten the name of the "taco guy" who you got the recipe from and given his stand some free advertising. Because basically now you've taken his recipe, made yourself some $$ and he's got nothing... Also reference the video where you learned how to scrape the nopales efficiently

@jimoconner1941 2 жыл бұрын

Work on your Spanish pronunciation. Pretty bad.

@Sumofabit 4 жыл бұрын

Please learn to pronounce nopales correctly.

@EthanChlebowski 4 жыл бұрын

I'll get there :)

@khakhy 3 жыл бұрын

Hijo de su! No PA les, noPAL, no PA les. Your cooking is very good, your Spanish , not so much. Have you ever checked out the"De mi rancho a tu cocina" channel with dona Angela?

@SunshineGelb 3 жыл бұрын

¿A qué viene tu estúpido comentario? He's not teaching Spanish, moron!🙄