Nopel: Have you seen my pad?

Nobel is the common name in Mexican Spanish for Nopales or Prickly Pear cactus. Believe it or not the nopal pads are a superfood. http://healthbenefitsofeating.com/herbs/10-health-benefits-nopales/

It seems like every plant is a superfood when we eat them raw, or cooked as long as we don't tamper with it and turn it into a junk food.

The pads can be eaten raw or cooked, used in soups stews and salad. You can find them in your local grocery stores or you could take a ride to Mexico and buy them on the street. They are really quite popular and used by many.

I went to my backyard grocery store (Our garden is nature's way of storing our food other than a grocery store) and looked for the elusive cactus pads hiding in the tall grass.

I found a young beautiful pad and severed it from the cactus plant. I was overjoyed and brought it to my kitchen table.

I took a sharp knife and trimmed everything that looked like a cactus spine. I left nothing to chance. I carefully examined the pad to make sure that no spines (sharp thorns) or what I call small pricks (word I derived from the common name, prickly pear) were left on the pad. 

Caution: Even the smallest brown spines are dangerous. If swallowed, they might have to be surgically removed. Use reading glasses if you need a close up of your pad's skin.

I removed everything that looked small, sharp, and possibly dangerous to the throat.

I diced it and made it ready for scrambled eggs. 

I sauteed it in olive oil before adding the eggs.

I made my scrambled eggs and found that they really don't have much taste. They were a little chewy but were not that bad.

I think I am going to try eating them again. There are all kinds of recipes for using them. I might try juicing some pads after removing the spines. I don't feel superhuman after eating nopales, but psychologically I feel good.