Nopales con Huevo (Cactus with Eggs)

Name: Nopales con Huevo (Cactus with Eggs)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsps olive oil; 2 cactus pads (thorns removed and diced); ¼ onion (diced); 1 jalapeño (finely diced); 6 eggs; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp ground cumin; cilantro (for garnish)

Nopales con Huevo is a simple Mexican breakfast made with tender cactus, scrambled eggs, onion, and jalapeño. Serve with warm tortillas, avocado, queso fresco, and salsa.

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A plate featuring nopales con huevo—scrambled eggs mixed with vegetables and tender cactus—served alongside two slices of avocado and a piece of white bread, all arranged on a decorative brown dish with a fork nearby.

Nopales con Huevo (Cactus with Eggs) 🌵🍳 is a simple Mexican breakfast made with tender diced cactus, eggs, onion, and jalapeño. It’s an easy, flavorful way to enjoy nopales and comes together in about 15 minutes.

I’m a big cactus fan. I’ve even got the t-shirt and the foam finger. 😂 Nopales are a staple in Mexican cooking, and this is one of my favorite ways to prepare them for breakfast.

If you are a fan of cactus, also try my Ensalada de Nopales.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️

Quick and easy: This breakfast comes together in about 15 minutes with just a few ingredients.
Full of Mexican flavor: Cactus, onion, jalapeño, cumin, and eggs make a simple but flavorful combination.
A great way to eat nopales: If you’re new to cooking cactus, this is an easy recipe to start with.
Perfect for breakfast: Serve it with warm tortillas, avocado, queso fresco, or Frijoles Refritos for a complete Mexican breakfast.

-Maggie

Four images show a cactus pad cleaned of spines, sliced, and cut into strips, then diced pieces of cactus in a colorful bowl, all on bright green backgrounds.

🌵 Cleaning Cactus

I’m using cactus that already have the thorns removed. It just makes life easier and prevents accidental internal acupuncture. Or, you can use nopales in a jar.

Many stores now sell cactus that is already cleaned and diced. I highly recommend using those instead of cleaning the cactus yourself.

If you can only find cactus with thorns, rinse and grab the nopal from one end. With the other hand, begin shaving off the thorns from the cactus paddle.
Once there are no more thorns, slice and dice.

Used to make other traditional Mexican dishes like Nopales con Chorizo and Carne de Puerco con nopales.

A four-step collage: whisked eggs in a bowl, then mixed; diced onions and green cactus cooking in a pan; eggs poured into the pan over the cactus.

👩🏼‍🍳 Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
Add the diced cactus.
Cook for 3 minutes, or until the cactus has turned a dark olive green color.
Add the onion and jalapeno.
Cook for 1 minute.
In a bowl, whisk the eggs.
Add the eggs, salt, and cumin to the skillet.
Stir and cook eggs for 3-5 minutes.
Top with cilantro.

Also consider adding 1 diced tomato.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions

What are nopales?

Nopales are the edible pads of the prickly pear cactus. They are commonly used in Mexican cooking and can be grilled, sautéed, boiled, or added to salads, soups, and stews.

Do I need to remove the thorns from nopales?

Yes. If you buy fresh cactus paddles with thorns, the thorns need to be carefully removed before cooking. Many grocery stores sell nopales that have already been cleaned, which makes preparation much easier.

Can I use jarred nopales?

Yes. Jarred or canned nopales are a convenient option for this recipe. Drain and rinse them well before adding them to the skillet.

How do I know when the nopales are cooked?

The cactus will soften and change from a bright green color to a darker olive green. It will also release some liquid as it cooks.

Why are my nopales slimy?

Nopales naturally release a slippery liquid as they cook. Continue cooking them uncovered until most of the liquid has evaporated before adding the eggs. This will help reduce the slimy texture.

If you love nopales as much as I do, try my Licuado de Nopal or Nopales con Chorizo. They’re both delicious ways to add cactus to your Mexican cooking.

Scrambled eggs with cactus paddles, also known as Nopales con Huevo, garnished with cilantro, served on a floral plate with avocado slices and a piece of white cheese. A fork is placed nearby on a wooden table.

🍴 More Mexican Breakfast Recipes

Mexican Breakfast Torta
Huevos con Salchicha
Mole Chilaquiles
Licuado de Platano (Banana Smoothie)
Huevos a la Mexicana
Torrejas (Mexican French Toast)
Huevos Rancheros
Chilaquiles Rojos

Nopales con Huevo is proof that breakfast doesn’t need to be complicated. A few simple ingredients make a flavorful Mexican breakfast that’s ready in no time. Serve it with warm tortillas, avocado, queso fresco, and salsa, and dig in!

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Nopales con Huevo (Cactus with Eggs)

Nopales con Huevo is a simple Mexican breakfast made with tender cactus, scrambled eggs, onion, and jalapeño. Serve with warm tortillas, avocado, queso fresco, and salsa.