Stacked Nopales Quesadillas

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 500u00b0 with rack set in upper third. Meanwhile, cut nopales into 1/2- by 2-in. strips. In a frying pan, saute nopales over high heat with 2 tsp. oil until pan is mostly dry, 5 minutes. Reduce heat; cook until barely tender, 3 minutes more. Set aside.

2. 2

   In a bowl, whisk lemon juice, 1 tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and half of chipotle. Gently stir in avocado; set aside.

3. 3

   In another bowl, toss remaining chipotle with half of onions and the cheese; set aside 3/4 cup. Toss nopales with remaining cheese mixture in bowl. Lightly brush tortillas on both sides with remaining 1 tbsp. oil; sprinkle on one side with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt.

4. 4

   Set out 4 tortillas on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with half of nopales mixture. Repeat layers. Set remaining tortillas on top and sprinkle with reserved 3/4 cup cheese mixture.

5. 5

   Bake stacks until golden and crisp at edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Set on plates. Toss avocado mixture with lettuce and remaining onions, then mound on stacks.

6. 6

   Nopales Basics:

7. 7

   BUY. Some supermarkets and Latino markets sell cactus with the spines, and others sell it de-stickered and ready to use--whole or cut up. When buying whole pads, look for ones that are smooth, crisp, and small to medium size.

8. 8

   PREP. To remove spines from pads, put on dish gloves. Scrape a knife almost flat down the length of both sides of pads to shave off spines and barbed, fuzzy dots. Pare rims with a vegetable peeler. Trim bases; rinse pads.

9. 9

   COOK. Once nopales hit the heat, they release a sticky juice (like okra), but it cooks off.

10. 10

    *Find corn-wheat tortillas such as La Tortilla Factory Hand Made Style at many regular grocery stores and at latortillafactory.com.

No additional tips available.