Stuffed nopal leaf, a delicacy from Valtierrilla

Have you heard of stuffed nopal? This delight proudly hails from Guanajuato, and can be found in the famous “Land of Nopal”, Valtierrilla in the municipality of Salamanca.Valtierrilla is a charming village in Guanajuato surrounded by mountainous landscapes and lush valleys, captivating with its natural beauty, rich history, and interesting gastronomy.Also known as the world capital of nopal, this community exports dozens of tons of this wonderful fruit every day to the entire state and the rest of the country. Therefore, it is obvious that it is the basis of their typical food and is present in countless delights such as salads, ice creams, tortillas, waters, liquors, sweets, snacks, and even jellies, among many others.You can also read: 5 recipes with nopal saladBut the jewel of its culinary wealth is the stuffed nopal. As its name indicates, it is a nopal leaf that has been previously washed, cut along one end, and filled with various stews. To begin preparing this exquisite typical dish, each nopal leaf is cooked over coals. Once ready, it can be filled with the diner's preferred stew, such as al pastor meat, chicken, choriqueso, mushrooms, vegetables, and even more nopales with onion and cheese. The limit is your imagination.The most traditional way to fill the nopal leaves is with more nopal, xoconostle, onion, tomato, and meat such as pork, beef, or chicken. Once the package is ready, it is wrapped in aluminum foil to cook slowly over coals, allowing the flavors to meld. Another option for this step is to use a grill or comal, but definitely, the heat generated by charcoal or firewood gives it a unique flavor.For accompaniment, nothing is better than freshly made nopal tortillas and tuna water to achieve the perfect pairing. Yes, more nopal to completely tie it all together in your stomach and palate. For dessert, the best choice is garambullo ice cream.Generally, each piece is perfect for three or four people, but if you want, you can take on the challenge and try to finish one by yourself. Without a doubt, the community of Valtierrilla, in the municipality of Salamanca, has a great gastronomic heritage that you must enjoy. Continue reading: 15 recipes with nopales