Stuffed Cactus Paddles In Tomato Broth Recipes

Steps:

• Make cut in one long side of each cactus paddle to make pocket, being careful to not cut through to opposite side of each.
• Stuff each pocket with 1/4 cup cheese; secure with toothpicks. Heat oil in large deep skillet on medium heat to 375ºF. Beat egg whites in medium bowl with mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gently stir in egg yolks and cracker crumbs.
• Dip cactus in egg mixture. Add to hot oil; cook 4 min. or until golden brown, turning after 2 min. Drain on paper towels; discard toothpicks.
• Cook salsa and water in large skillet on medium heat 5 min. Add cactus; cook 3 min. or until heated through.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Place the chiles on a foil-lined broiler pan; broil, turning, until the skins char, about 8 minutes. Place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let cool, about 10 minutes.
• Peel the chiles. Slice each open lengthwise, about 1/2 inch from the top to 1 inch from the bottom. Remove the seedpod, then rinse to flush out any remaining seeds. Blot dry, inside and out, with paper towels. Carefully stuff each chile with a stick of cheese.
• Puree the tomatoes, onion and garlic in a blender until smooth. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat until almost smoking. Add the tomato puree, cloves, peppercorns, bay leaves, cinnamon stick and cilantro sprig and fry, stirring, until thick, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the broth, reduce the heat and simmer until thickened but still brothy, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt. Strain, discarding the solids, and keep warm.
• Preheat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Heat 1 to 1 1/2 inches of vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 360. Beat the egg whites, 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon salt with a mixer until stiff but not dry. Beat the yolks in a separate bowl until combined, then gently fold them into the whites.
• Overlap the sides of the slit in the chiles to enclose the cheese, then dredge in flour, working with two chiles at a time. (Coat any tears with flour.) Using tongs, dip and roll the chiles in the egg mixture to coat. Fry in the hot oil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer with a large skimmer or 2 spatulas to the paper-towel-lined baking sheet, letting the excess oil drip back into the pot. Repeat with the remaining chiles and egg mixture. Place in the oven on the lined baking sheet to cook off any excess oil, about 5 minutes.
• Ladle the tomato broth into 4 shallow bowls; place 2 chiles in each. Garnish with cilantro.

Steps:

• Cut the top quarter off of each of the tomatoes and reserve for later. Scoop out the pulp from the insides of the tomatoes and add to a blender. Sprinkle the tomato shells with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Season the pulp with the basil, broth, oregano, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Blend on high speed until smooth, then pour the puree into a medium bowl. (You should have about 2 1/4 cups.) Add the tomato puree to the pulp puree and stir to combine. (It should yield 2 3/4 cups. If it doesn't, add more puree.) Stir in the rice.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spread the potatoes on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss well to combine. Nestle the tomatoes into the diced potatoes. Fill each tomato almost all the way to the top with the rice filling. Place the tops back on the tomatoes. Pour any remaining filling around the tomatoes and over the potatoes. Drizzle the whole dish with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and bake until the tomatoes are blistered on the outside and the rice is cooked through, 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Serve with a grating of Parmesan, if desired.

Steps:

• Mix first 3 ingredients and place this mixture betwen two nopal slices. You can also use just one slice, spreading filling on one side, rolling it and securing ends with a toothpick.
• Pass through beaten egg and then through bread crumbs.
• Fry in hot oil and serve.

Steps:

• Place the whole cactus paddles, onion and garlic in a large pot with water to cover and salt to taste.
• Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes, or until the nopales are tender but still firm.
• Drain and rinse.
• Starting at the wide, curved end, carefully slice each paddle horizontally, as if butterflying a chop for stuffing.
• Do not cut all the way through to the narrow end (the thicker part where the pad is attached to the main plant) but leave approximately 1 1/2" uncut.
• Place a slice of cheese between the two sections and press flat.
• Dredge the paddles in flour.
• Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks, and fold in the lightly beaten egg yolks.
• Pour enough oil into large skillet so that it comes up at least 1/2 inch.
• Heat the oil until sizzling hot.
• Dip the stuffed nopales in the egg batter to coat and fry in the hot oil until golden brown on each side.
• Serve immediately with red salsa.

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and remove immediately. Pass through a fine mesh strainer, whisking occasionally to help the liquid pass through. The broth will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. It will separate and need only be stirred. It can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Steps:

• Heat the oil over medium-low heat; add the onion and garlic. Cook for several minutes until they have softened but not browned, stirring occasionally. Add the herbs, tomatoes and peppercorns; cook on low heat until the mixture becomes paste-like - use a heat diffuser &/or be careful not to scorch as mixture reduces.
• Add the broth or water; increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 1 hour. The mixture should be greatly reduced. Strain through fine-mesh strainer, discarding the solids. Season with salt and pepper to taste.