Licuado de Nopal (Cactus Smoothie)
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Published Feb 05, 2022
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This refreshing Cactus Smoothie known as Licuado de Nopal is a perfect way to keep all of your healthy new year resolutions. Drink this high-fiber, antioxidant-rich, and tasty green smoothie for your breakfast and reap all of the nutritious benefits! And if you’re not on the resolution train, this tasty breakfast smoothie is also an excellent cure for a hangover.
About 10 years ago at Christmas I met a new friend, Ania and we started talking about our shared love of nopales. She introduced me to this tasty licuado de nopal that she drinks every morning. Her skin is radiant and she is super thin even after having had twins, so of course I have incorporated this new beverage into my New Year, New Me routine every year since!
About This Recipe
While I’m not much of a diet person – hello, chile con queso! – I have been drinking this juice every morning since the beginning of the year. While I have not lost any weight, I do feel less bloated (sorry, TMI??). I also feel more energized, and my skin is looking fabulous, if I do say so myself.
None of this should come as a shock – this tasty cactus smoothie is made with fresh nopales, tons of water, fresh cucumber, and bright lime. Licuado de nopal is super refreshing and does an unbelievable job of rehydrating me in the midst of this super dry winter air.
The nopal cactus is a plant native to the mountains of Mexico. It has been used since ancient times as both a food and for its medicinal and health benefits. This smoothie is also great for overeating and hangovers too!
Aside from prepping the nopales paddles, this recipe takes literally just two minutes to throw together. I’m already not much of a morning person, and when it is dark until 7am, I’m even less so. The fact that this simple breakfast smoothie comes together with so little fuss makes it easy to incorporate into my morning routine.
I also love how customizable this licuado de nopal is. If I need a little extra sweetness, I can add pineapple or mango chunks. If I’m out of lime, I can trade in lemon. It is simply delicious, every single time!
How to Make Licuado de Nopal Cactus Smoothies
This simple recipe takes just a few minutes to throw together. First, you’ll need to prepare your nopales paddles. I like to keep them in a zip-top bag in the freezer so I don’t have to do anything difficult (read: with a knife) when I’m still bleary eyed with sleep.
Then, all you have to do is add the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. So simple!
Serving Suggestions
Drink this smoothie every morning before you eat anything else. The juice is rich in fiber, helps speed up your metabolism, and helps eliminate grease and toxins. This cactus smoothie is also choc-full of antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and B, cleanses the liver and colon and provides an über-rich source of fiber and hydration. For best results, drink this juice for seven days straight.
Since this is a smoothie, there are plenty of ways to customize it to your liking. I love licuado de nopal as the recipe is written, but feel free to zhuzh it up to your own standards. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Swap in coconut water for added potassium.
- Add in frozen pineapple, mango, bananas, or berries for a boost of sweetness.
Did you come up with a winning combination I should know about? Let me know in the comments below or tag me in your Instagram post so I can cheer you on!
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Just add a bit more liquid and continue blending until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Nopales (prickly pear cactus paddles) are super healthy, and their juice offers a multitude of health benefits including strengthening the immune system, improving skin health, offering anti-inflammatory benefits, and reducing LDL cholesterol.
Check any Mexican grocer in your area – they will almost certainly carry them in stock.
More Healthy Recipes
If you tried my recipe for Licuado de Nopal Cactus Smoothies, please be sure to rate and review it below! Super delicioso, jaja mentiras! Cheers to a healthy year! Salud!
Summarize & Save This Content On
Licuado de Nopal (Cactus Smoothie)
Ingredients
- ½ cup nopal, cactus pads cleaned, spines removed, sliced
- 1/2 cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 cup water
- Crushed ice, optional
Instructions
- Store julienned nopal in snack bags in the freezer. To make one smoothie use only half the bag of nopal.
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend.
Notes
- If you want it to be less chunky then blend longer and or add more water.
- Swap in coconut water for added potassium.
- Add in frozen pineapple, mango, bananas, or berries for a boost of sweetness.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography by Jeanine Thurston & Jenna Sparks
Originally published: January 2011.
This looks so refreshing — I am making it in the morning. I could do with something that will add radiance to my skin. But you don’t think it increases one’s chances of having twins, do you?? 🙂
By the way, your nopal pads are so much larger than what I can find here in the grocery stores — just small, tender ones. They are very good, but don’t make great “plates”.
Kathleen
Kathleen: LOL! Twins?! Hmmm, not that I know of! But if that happens be sure to tell us. Hey, maybe this is what the celebrities drink in Hollywood with the epidemic of multiples 😉
Interesting about the size of nopales?! I remember my grama’s thorny cactus bush in the backyard being HUGE — Must be a U.S. thing 😉
Also…the reason most diets fail is because people do not strictly follow the guidelines and deviate from them. And eating at night is a NO NO. Stop eating at night and you will see a weight loss. Unfortunately this is a Western syndrome which is why obesity is so epidemic.
Mary Ellen: You are preaching to the choir! I know its naughty, and am determined to try harder. Wish me luck!
I am going to add this smoothie as a mixer for tequila. I live in Tijuana where any imported spirits including wine are expensive so tequila is the drink of choice.
I’ve already used cucumber (pepino) as a mixer drink with tequila so this will be perfect! Adding 1/3 of a jalapeno will give it a kick!
Mary Ellen: Tequila makes everything yummier! We’d love to hear how your mixer turns out! Feel free to share a photo of it on our Facebook page! My mouth is watering now!!!
Does this drink aid in lowering A1C numbers for diabetic?
Wow. Your food looks just amazing. What a creative drink! We’d love to see your stuff posted at dishfolio.com!
Hi Lacy: Thanks for the compliment! We will definitely look into dishfolio.com. Gracias!
I have a shake that I drink almost every morning with lots of “good for you” stuff in it that tastes amazing (http://cookmarked.com/recipe.aspx?eID=kHGwP6ADYslIwuhVxc9Zj4A2yEpUG9r7p7cjqGkW158e). I might try adding the cactus to it. Thanks for the great info!
Sounds yummy!!! My hubby is a fan of smoothies and loves drinking fruit ones. I’m more of a warm breakfast kinda girl in the winter so this has been challenging for me 😉
This is a really cool concept. It just seems so fresh and natural! I’ve been attempting to eat healthier, but as you could probably see from my blog I’m not exactly succeeding yet..
Jess : )
http://www.livininthekitchen.wordpress.com
I’ve never eaten or drunk cactus before! I wonder if I can get it in Paris?
Jessica: I’ve never been to Paris (sigh). Let me know if you find it — so curious 😉
I was just going to ask 2 questions and noticed they were already answered. Thanks.
OK for better skin and a few pounds, I’m willing to give it a try. Did I read it correctly, you said it doesn’t taste bad- do you pinky swear?! Smile…
I’m not sure if our local store carries them, but we do have a mexican store in town. I will give this a try- I have never tried cactus before.
Just curious besides the smoothie, does one eat them as carrots with skin and all?
XO
Joyce: I totally pinky swear!!! I have grown to actually like them. I love fresh juices and love wheatgrass and stuff like that. So if you are not into fresh earthy tastes then you might not like it. And yes, skin and all 😉
Ok, this is a stupid question but please don’t laugh 🙂 Do the thorns in the cactus dissapear when you blend it to make tthe smoothie?
Angie: Not a dumb question at all. Buy the pads from the store with thorns off, then you want to be sure to remove any little thorns/spines left over by running the knife up and down the pad or rubbing them off with a kitchen sponge. They even sell fresh nopales sometimes pre-cut, but do not buy the ones that are in a jar.
I need to begin drinking this NOW!! lol, yes the tortilla and salsa are addicting, the color is amainz, thanks for not lying about the taste..lol
sweetlife
The taste is really not that bad. It tastes very fresh with the cucumber. I actually like it, but others might not like the fresh pulp texture 😉