Is it EASY to find cactus pads in the chicagoland area?

PLanning some cooking classes in Mexico and some of these cactus pad dishes look great, but no sense in taking the class if I will struggle to find the ingredients.

Anyone cook with these frequently and possibly could provide some insight?

Thanks in advance!

I have never had a problem finding catus pads. They are available at every Hispanic grocery store.

Flip

Yeah -- and many stores have them fresh, canned, and bottled.

If you need a name to search for, Carniceria Jimenez is a good choice -- fabulous stores.

Is it EASY to find cactus pads in the chicagoland area?

Yes.



Okay, I'll provide more than one word in my answer....

Any Mexican grocery store will have nopales. If you tell us where you live I'm sure someone can identify a place close to you.

Some stores also sell nopales already cleaned and cut up in small squares. Those bags are also in the produce section, near the whole nopales.

I've seen them at almost every grocery store. Whole Foods always carries them. Be careful when picking them up though . . . or you will be hurt. I bagged several one time and gave them to an unfortunate cashier in training who grabbed the bag of them and immediately excused himself to deal with the thorns.

Amata wrote:Some stores also sell nopales already cleaned and cut up in small squares. Those bags are also in the produce section, near the whole nopales.

You will pay quite a bit more for the pre-cut nopales, but once you try to clean them yourself, you will understand why the prepared ones fetch a premium price.