Cactus Salad

Note from Cheri: Sabor, one of my favorite LA restaurants, makes a Cactus Salad similar to this one that I was absolutlely addicited to. I'm not sure exactly how they make theirs, but here is my version. You can find jars of cactus or nopalitos in the Latin foods section of your supermarket. Try this for unique change of pace. This also makes fabulous picnic food!

Salad 1 jar (15 oz.) nopalitos (prickly pear cactus, see note above) 2-3 Roma tomatoes, diced 1/2 med. sweet onion, diced 1/2 bell pepper (green, yellow or red) 1/3 C chopped cilantro 1-2 serrano or jalapeno chiles (or to taste) 1/4 C crumbled Mexican queso cheese or feta cheese Dressing 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil salt and pepper to taste

Serves 4 Mix all salad ingredients together. Whisk together dressing ingredients and pour over salad, toss well to coat. This salad can be made a few hours ahead of time and refrigerated until needed.