Nopale cactus plant in pint pot. The nopal pads can be eaten raw or cooked, used in marmalades, soups, stews and salads, as well as being used for traditional medicine. Cut into slices or diced into cubes, nopales have a light, slightly tart flavor, like green beans, and a crisp, mucilaginous texture The nopal cactus grows extensively throughout Mexico, being especially abundant in the central Mexican arid and semi arid regions. There are three typical ways to cultivate nopal cacti ? commercial plantations, family farms and gardens, or in the wild. Zones 8 to 11.