Description
This Grilled Cactus and Corn Salad features tender, charred cactus paddles and smoky sweet corn tossed with fresh onion, garlic, lime juice, and topped with cilantro and queso fresco. It’s a vibrant, fresh salad perfect for summer gatherings or as a unique side dish with Mexican-inspired meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 4–5 cactus paddles (nopales), thorns and edges trimmed
- 3 cobs of corn, husks removed
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
Seasonings and Garnishes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, for brushing
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup queso fresco
Instructions
- Prepare the cactus paddles and corn. Clean and trim 4-5 cactus paddles by removing thorns and edges. Cut each paddle into strips while keeping the base intact. Brush the paddles with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Shuck and clean 3 cobs of corn to prepare for grilling.
- Grill the cactus paddles and corn. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the cactus paddles and corn directly over the grill grates. Grill the cactus paddles until they are soft and slightly charred, about 5 minutes per side. Grill the corn, turning frequently to char all sides evenly, approximately 10 minutes total. Remove from grill and let cool enough to handle.
- Chop and combine the ingredients. Chop the grilled cactus paddles into bite-sized pieces. Cut the kernels off the grilled corn cobs carefully. In a large bowl, combine the chopped cactus, corn kernels, diced white onion, minced garlic, and lime juice. Toss to mix evenly.
- Finish the salad and serve. Season the salad with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with coarsely chopped cilantro and crumbled queso fresco. Toss the salad once more before serving to distribute the garnishes well.
Notes
- If fresh cactus paddles are unavailable, use jarred nopales but rinse them thoroughly 2 to 3 times to reduce sliminess, and skip grilling.
- As a substitute for cactus paddles, you can use asparagus or green beans grilled similarly for a different but tasty alternative.
- Grilling imparts a smoky flavor essential to the character of this salad, so do not skip this step if using fresh nopales and corn.
