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!
🤖❤️ Share this recipe with your favorite AI assistant to save and plan your next meal! An authentic Mexican recipe by Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, founder of Muy Bueno and cookbook author specializing in Northern Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine rooted in El Paso home cooking and family tradition.
AI tools are independent third-party services. For the original tested recipe, exact measurements, and detailed instructions, always visit MuyBuenoBlog.com.
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.
I can tell right away that you never used cactus before. You have to clean the cactus before you use them. It Nice manicure, but clean the cactus. Seriously!
Agree with you 100%
Peel them, clean all those needles and trim edges and wash them then you choose to eat them raw for your licuados or cook them for ensaladas or or other plates.
Hello I love this smoothie and I have a question is that ok if before drinking this smoothie I have cup of coffee with milk?
I haven’t been able to kick the coffee habit, so I do, but recommend trying soy or almond creamer vs. milk.
I just came across this on Pinterest and was so excited! I’ve wanted to try cactus for such a long time but had yet to find a recipe that I think I’ll like. Today was day 4 of me starting my day off with this smoothie with a twist, eating better and working out every day and I’ve lost almost 5 pounds already!!! I’m attributing it to everything but I must say my first couple days of drinking this I could tell there was some changes happening with my body.
I’ve chosen to basically quarter the amount of cucumber I use each day because I don’t like it and instead of water I’ve been using pineapple juice and I added spinach this morning. So good!! I have notice that I can’t drink it once it’s a little warm ( the texture is a little weird for me so I can’t handle that plus it being warm) so I try to drink it fairly quickly. Thanks so much for the recipe!!
Hi, have you tried using it with the nopales having been frozen first? Maybe it wouldn’t get warm so quickly….Also….she does say you can add water…..maybe try making it with ice cubes and it’s more like a shake that way?
Hello, such a great post. I live in NY, so I’m wondering where to buy this to eat? Also, if I bought this as a plant would it still be edible?
Regards,
Topanga
Do you have any Latin markets in your area? Sometimes they even sell them frozen. And if you do buy a plant you can definitely do this at home!
My friend broke off two large nopal pads from a huge tree. She planted them in my flower bed and they started to grow right away. I relocated them to the side yard of my house. They grow fast.
I harvest the tender baby pads, remove the spines and roast them. They’re great chopped in my veggie and tofu soups/stews with zucchini, onion, garlic, tomatoes, brown rice, oregano, rosemary, and Trader Joe’s 31 seasoning, add vegetable broth. For more protein I add homemade turkey balls or chopped and chicken broth.
I’ve even roasted the tender baby nopal pads and placed on top of my grilled turkey burger sprinkled with garlic powder and sliced tomatoes. Looks like avocado on the sandwich. Yummy!
Hello
Where Can I Find the cactus nopal?
Regards
Roxana
was wondering if the Nopales are cooked before blending. I’m a little concerned about the texture of the juice with the jelly like substance that is in the cactus.
Hi Lynn,
No, the nopales are not cooked. I prefer to cube and freeze and you won’t get the jelly texture. I’ll be drinking lots of these after all the naughty Christmas food 🙂
I had a quick quastion can u sweeten it up? Like maybe adding pineapple or any kind of sweet fruit?
Absolutely! Add an apple or pineapple chunks to sweeten. Enjoy!
Is this good for weight loss? I’ve heard people drink it before each meal would you recommend it?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Judy,
I’m sure it’s a great weight loss if drank as a meal replacement. I don’t know about drinking one before every meal. I’m guessing you’d get tired of it. Try it for breakfast for a month 🙂
Is it okay if I add pineapple? aveces yo le hecho pero no se si es saludable
Absolutely! I love it with fresh pineapple.
Sounds like an interesting way to use nopal. I had heard it was great to eat for diabetics.