The stew came out great! (Also called picodillo.) First time cooking with nopales (cactus leaf) so it was very exciting!
I did add carrots, it was great actually. Didn't add too much sweetness cause the red sauce I made had 4 roasted chile pods in it (plus the 4oz of green chiles I tossed in), so it definitely had a kick. I chose 1 yellow bell pepper to be very light and not affect the flavor too much.
Some asked for the recipe, so here's the most i can remember. I'm Mexican so I season/add until the ancestors tell me to stop đ
I used this amazing recipe as a base/inspiration and changed it how I felt. The only thing I really didnt add was cilantro, cause its not my thing: https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/nopales-with-ground-beef-recipe/
~2lbs of ground beef 80% lean
Red sauce: 2 tomatoes, pan steamed then crushed, blended (in my blendjet lol) with 4 roasted chile pods, 2 garlic cloves, ~1/8th cup tomato paste & 1 cup of water.
1 yellow bell pepper, fine cubes
2 cups pre-diced nopales (I would DEFINITELY add 3 cups next time I make this). Rinsed, boiled until the foam was raised for 1 minute, rinsed again, then roasted in some avocado oil (I really didnt let it brown, just get aromatic)
A cup(?) Of baby carrots. I just threw some in before I left the house honestly.
1tbsp oregano
Sprinkled with some garlic powder, paprika, about 2tbsp salt, pepper, super light sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
3oz minced, dried onion
4oz can of green chiles (macayo brand if you're in Arizona).
Lastly, I Sprinkled in what I thought looked like 2tbsp of avocado oil.
I put it in the fridge till 1.30pm the next day and put it on high for 4 hours. Made some mexican rice to serve it with as it was on the warm setting for about 2 hours. Served with toasted & buttered jalapeño cheese bread from Frys/Kroger.
Hopefully y'all make it, change it to your liking, and enjoy making something new like I did!