WTF: What's That Food?

Let's make a next level taco today, OK?

But before we begin, it's story time.

When I am thinking about what to use for my WTF posts, I like to wander around the grocery until something catches my eye. This week, that something was a cactus paddle. A Nopales cactus paddle, to be exact.

Apparently enough people eat these in order for the grocery to sell them. This, to me, is shocking. So of course I had to buy some.

The Nopales cactus paddle.

First impression:

~ 'No way are they selling cactus paddles in the grocery.' *Jaw drop*

~ 'I decorate my apartment with these!' *Jaw still dropped*

~ 'People eat these???'

First impression tasting it:

~ There was a strange sticky substance inside, similar to aloe. This is cactus juice.

~ They taste a bit like string beans...a less flavorful version.

Side note: The Nopales cactus isn't the most exciting for the taste buds, but how cool is it that you can eat a cactus?! Don't knock it 'til you try it.

Nutrition facts:

~ Rich with Vitamin C - One serving of this cactus paddle can give you up to 28% your needed daily intake of Vitamin C!

~ Anti-inflammatory - This cactus is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory agent and has been useful in helping to reduce inflammation in the stomach.

~ High in antioxidants - Antioxidants help protect cells in the body from things like pollution, radiation, smoking and certain chemicals. They can also help to lower your risk of getting infections and they help to protect against cancer.

So do you want to make a next level taco now?! Yeah, I thought so. ;)

Next Level Tacos With Nopales Cactus Paddle

Ingredients:

~ Nopales cactus paddle - 1

~ Tortilla (I used a GF brown rice tortilla) - 1

~ Avocado - 1/2

~ Tomato - 1/4 cup diced

~ Onion - 1/4 cup chopped

~ Cilantro - 2 pinches (or as you wish)

~ Lime - 1/2

~ Cracked pepper - 1 pinch

~ Oregano - 1 pinch

~ Salt - 1 pinch plus 2 pinches

Instructions:

1. First you will need to prepare the cactus paddle. By prepare, I mean you are going to slice off the spines so you don't have a painful experience when all you are trying to do is innocently eat a taco. To prepare, use a serrated knife and make sure you cut all of the spines off. This could take some time so be prepared to zen out and maybe turn on some tunes.

2. Next, cut off the base of the paddle.

3. Rinse the paddle under running water and ensure that all of the spines are removed. Some of the cut off spines may still stick to the paddle. Keep this in mind while rinsing.

4. Slice the paddle into thin strips.

5. Using just enough water to cover the strips, bring water to a boil and add 2 pinches of salt. Place strips in the water and boil for 10-15 minutes uncovered.

6. While the paddle is boiling, chop up the avocado, tomato, onion and cilantro.

7. Make a simple guacamole by mashing the avocado, onion and lime. This takes less than a minute and I personally believe that mashed avocado is 1000x better than plain old chopped avocado.

8. Place the tomato on the tortilla, followed by the cactus paddle (after it has finished boiling and you have strained the water, of course), then the guacamole and lastly the cilantro.

9. Squeeze the 1/2 lime all over the mountain of goodness that you will now call a taco.

10. Sprinkle pepper, 1 pinch of salt and oregano.

11. Wrap the tortilla around this giant mountain of food and take a big bite. You have now made a tried and true next level taco. Bravo.