Cactus Corn Salsa

The Nandus #chopped ingredients: cactus, habanero, watercress

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 nopales cactus paddles, spikes removed
• 2 green (or red) tomatoes, cored and cut in half
• 1/2 large, white onion, peeled and cut into 4 chunks
• 2 jalapeños, red or green, more or less to taste
• few dashes of habanero salsa
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup cilantro, stems removed
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 2 hot chili peppers, stems removed, more or less to taste
• Juice from 1/2 a lime, about 1 Tbsp
• 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
• Salt to taste
• A small handful of watercress leaves

1. Prep cactus paddles: Heat oven to 425°F. Working with a large sharp knife with a fairly straight edge, scrape off any remaining prickles or nubs on the cactus paddles.
   Cut the paddles crosswise into 1-inch thick strips. Lightly grease a baking sheet with olive oil.
2. Roast cactus paddles with onion and jalapeños in oven: Place cactus, green tomatoes, white onion and jalapeños on the baking sheet in preheated oven for 12 minutes. The cactus should still be slightly crisp when pierced with a fork.
3. Roast corn kernels: Heat a cast iron or stick-free skillet with 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat on the stove top. When the pan is heated, add frozen corn and spread out in an even layer. Do not stir the corn. Allow it to roast in the hot pan for about 2 to 3 minutes.
   The corn should become browned and roasted. You can check by gently flipping a few pieces with the corner of a spatula.
   When corn is browned, stir and roast for another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Place corn in a small bowl and set aside.
4. Pulse in food processor: Place the oven roasted vegetables in a food processor with the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, tequila, oregano and salt. Purée until nearly smooth, about 30 seconds. Add a few dashes of habanero sauce and mix well.
5. Stir in roasted corn: Pour the salsa into a serving dish. Stir the roasted corn into the finished salsa. Allow to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Top the salsa with watercress leaves and serve with tortilla chips.

Inspiration found at Simply Recipes