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–+ servings
Jugo verde in a glass.

10-Minute Jugo Verde (Made with Cactus)

Mitch Chapman
This traditional jugo verde is bursting with sweet citrus fruits, nutrient-packed vegetables, and a surprise ingredient — cactus! Try making it at home for a low-cost alternative to expensive store-bought juices without compromising flavor!
5 from 89 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Mexican, Vegan
Servings 2 cups
Calories 179 kcal

Equipment

  • Knife & cutting board
  • Blender
  • Strainer or nut milk bag

Ingredients
 

US Customary - Metric
  • 1 cactus pad
  • ½-inch chunk ginger
  • 2 cups pineapple chunks
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 1 green apple
  • 1 navel orange
  • 1 lime
  • 1 cup spinach

Instructions
 

  • Using a towel or just holding it carefully, prepare the nopales by cutting around both edges to remove the outer thorns. For the rest, run the edge of your knife in a horizontal fashion all over the pad until the thorns are gone.
  • Turn it over and repeat the same process on the second side. Roughly chop what is left and transfer it to a blender. Remove the ginger skin with a spoon. Cut away the pineapple skin and roughly chop it. Core and chop the apple and celery, and add everything to a blender.
  • Cut the orange and lime half and squeeze both into the blender as well. Mix on high until no chunks remain.
  • if you prefer no pulp, strain the juice into a cup or container before serving. Happy drinking!

Notes

Don't strain it: The pulp is where most of the nutrients are found, so I don't recommend straining your jugo verde unless you can't stand the pulp!
Chill your produce: For an extra refreshing drink, make sure your fruits and vegetables are refrigerated beforehand. Or, serve the juice over ice.
Add ice slowly: If you’re using ice, add it slowly because it can dilute the flavor.
For safety reasons, I recommend gripping onto the cactus pad with a clean tea towel or holding it near the bottom where there are no thorns.
Try not to blend the juice for too long to prevent heating the fruits and vegetables, which can reduce their nutritional value. 
Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 47.1g | Protein: 2.4g | Fat: 0.6g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 31.6mg | Potassium: 553.2mg | Fiber: 7.1g | Sugar: 35.7g | Vitamin A: 1804.9IU | Vitamin C: 72.9mg | Calcium: 91.9mg | Iron: 1.2mg
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