Nopales, also known as cactus pads or paddles, have long been a part of my California culinary life. I've had periodic bursts of enthusiasm over their slightly lemony flavor and firm-to-the-bite flesh ...

Have you ever noticed a stack of fresh cactus paddles at your local market, but were unsure how to use them — or at least how to keep from getting stuck? The paddles of the prickly pear cactus are ...

Walk around almost any neighborhood in San Diego County, and you’re bound to find cactus growing in several yards. When I was younger, my grandmother had some growing in her backyard. When the mood ...

Nopales are delicious and make for wonderful salad toppings. If you’ve never cooked with them, this is a great recipe to learn! This salad, is topped with a roasted poblano pepper dressing that’s ...

The history of Cinco de Mayo is a David-and-Goliath story — it commemorates the triumph of an ingenious Mexican army over a formidable enemy, France, in the Battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862. Four days ...

The scent of chiles toasting hung low like a sweet, spicy cloud swirling around the kitchen. I worked with one or two dried chiles at a time for the most control, flipping, then flattening them with a ...

If your heritage is Mexican, you already know about nopales – the pads of opuntia ficus-indica, the prickly pear cactus. This species also produces the spiny, fruit-like reddish-purplish-green “pears” ...

Cactuses aren’t just part of the scenery in South Texas. For centuries, the fruit and paddles from the prickly pear cactus have fueled the people who live here, and they’re still easy to find on the ...

Gonzalo González Guzmán, partner and chef in San Francisco’s popular Nopalito restaurants, knows what it’s like to inhabit two worlds at once. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access ...

Nopales (or ‘cactus paddles’) are now available at the farmers market for a short time. Although the prickly “spines” have been removed, be very careful when handling nopales. In a large pot, bring 4 ...