{"product_id":"xoconostle-plain-dried","title":"Xoconostle, Plain Dried","description":"\u003ch5\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eNaturally sour prickly pears for cooking. \u003c\/span\u003eEssential for Mole de Olla and other classic dishes from Mexico.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eXoconostle (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eOpuntia matudae\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) are the sour fruit from a particular variety of cactus. Unlike sweet prickly pears (or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003etunas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as they're called in Mexico), \u003cem\u003exoconostle\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eshow-ko-nost-lay\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) are naturally sour. They are most famously used in a dish called\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e mole de olla\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, adding flavor and tartness to a rich, beef stew. We have been selling them sweetened and dried or salty and dried, and we now can offer them to you plain and dried, ready for re-hydrating and very close to the elusive fresh version.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter soaking in water for a couple of hours, you can add them to salsas, stews or the famous \u003cem\u003emole de olla\u003c\/em\u003e. Actually, with stews, braises and other long, slow cooked meals, you can add them without soaking if you like.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdd \u003cem\u003exoconostle\u003c\/em\u003e to a little sugar and fresh water, blend, soak, strain and you have a lovely \u003cem\u003eagua fresca\u003c\/em\u003e; no lime needed!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI recently made a chicken with white wine, potatoes and herbs. On a whim, I threw in a small handful of dried \u003cem\u003exoconostle\u003c\/em\u003e and let the whole pot slowly braise until done. The \u003cem\u003exoconostle\u003c\/em\u003e fit in perfectly, almost the way a sour apple might. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eXoconostle\u003c\/em\u003e have legendary health benefits. There are even studies showing that \u003cem\u003exoconostle\u003c\/em\u003e might be used as natural antimicrobial agent against \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eE. coli\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. A lot of claims are made about the glucose-lowering effects of consuming \u003cem\u003exoconostle\u003c\/em\u003e. We aren't qualified to make health claims but a little research will impress you. Indigenous people in Mexico have been eating them for 5,000 years for both flavor and the health benefits.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"right\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eBe sure and reconstitute a few in water for a couple of hours and then experiment with their sour, subtle flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"right\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rancho Gordo","offers":[{"title":"3.2 Oz Bag","offer_id":2570815619,"sku":"DXOC-1","price":11.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2511\/files\/xoconostle-plain-dried-480760.jpg?v=1723504896","url":"https:\/\/www.ranchogordo.pro\/products\/xoconostle-plain-dried","provider":"Rancho Gordo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}