A nopal cactus plant in the countryside outside Puebla in Mexico with the volcano Popocatepetl in the background.
Popocatépetl is an active volcano located in the states of Puebla, State of Mexico, and Morelos, in Central Mexico, and lies in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. At 5,426 m (17,802 ft). It is the second highest peak in Mexico, after the Pico de Orizaba at 5,636 m (18,491 ft). Popocatepetl is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, having had more than 15 major eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. Nopal is a vegetable made from the young cladode (pad) segments of prickly pear, carefully peeled to remove the spines. These fleshy pads are flat and about hand-sized. They can be purple or green. They are particularly common in their native Mexico, where the plant is eaten commonly and regularly forms part of a variety of Mexican cuisine dishes. Nopales are generally sold fresh in Mexico. In more recent years bottled, or canned versions are available mostly for export. Less often dried versions are available. Used to prepare nopalitos, they have a light, slightly tart flavor, like green beans, and a crisp, mucilaginous texture. In most recipes the mucilaginous liquid they contain is included in the cooking. They are at their most tender and juicy in the spring. Nopales are most commonly used in Mexican cuisine in dishes such as huevos con nopales (eggs with nopal), carne con nopales (meat with nopal), tacos de nopales, or simply on their own or in salads with queso panela (panela cheese). Candied nopale is called acitróne. Nopales have also grown to be an important ingredient in New Mexican cuisine and in Tejano culture (Texas).
Size: 4928px × 3263px
Location: Puebla Mexico
Photo credit: © rsdphotography / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ash, cactus, countrysideimages, dormant, erupt, eruption, flora, mexico, mountains, nopal, plant, popocatepetl, puebla, quiet, rock, scene, scenic, sky, smoke, smoking, steam, typical, vegetation, view
