Nopalito Pie

Description

Also known as Cactus Pie

Ingredients

• 8 fresh cactus pieces, paddles with thorns and eyes removed and tough edges sliced off, diced
• 1 pastry for double-crust pie, 9 inch (either your favorite recipe or frozen pre-made pie crusts)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
• 1 slice fruit of prickly pear cactus (optional)

Procedures

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Parboil cactus for 3 minutes in enough boiling, lightly salted water to cover in a covered saucepan.
3. Drain and rinse under running water.
4. Roll half of pastry to ⅛-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
5. Place in a 9-inch pie plate; trim off excess pastry along edges and set to the side.
6. Combine cactus dice (nopalitos) and next three ingredients; mix well by hand.
7. Spoon filling evenly into pastry shell, and dot with butter.
8. Roll remaining pastry to ⅛-inch thickness; cut into ½-inch strips and arrange into lattice;
9. Fold edges under and flute into a pretty edge.
10. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes.
11. Garnish with slice of prickly pear fruit, if desired.