Cactus Fries (nopalitos Fritos)

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 lbs fresh cactus pieces, paddles (nopalitos)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons achiote paste (look for it in the mexican specialty-foods section or achiote paste)
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup ice water (approximately)
• peanut oil (for frying)

Recipe

• 1 remove thorns and “eyesâ€? from cactus, and trim off the edges of pads.
• 2 blanch cactus for 2 minutes in a covered pan with enough boiling salted water to cover; drain.
• 3 cut cactus in 3- to 4-inch strips similar to french fries; set aside.
• 4 combine cornstarch and achiote paste in a blender or food processor, and pulse until smooth.
• 5 in a medium-size bowl, combine flour and baking powder, add cornstarch mixture, and blend well.
• 6 in another bowl, beat egg to stiff meringue.
• 7 fold into the flour mixture, alternating with enough ice water to make batter the consistency of unbeaten egg ; chill.
• 8 dredge cactus strips in batter, and fry in deep hot oil (375° on the thermometer) until crisp and golden, approximately 3 minutes.
• 9 drain well and serve.