Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  12                    tender cactus pads
  3               cups  water
  6             slices  Machego or Panela cheese
     1/4                onion -- thinly sliced
                        lengthwise
  1              clove  garlic
                        Salt to taste
     1/2           cup  flour
  4                     eggs -- separated
  1 1/2           cups  vegetable or olive oil
  1                can  tomato sauce (12 ounces)

Preparation:

Prepare the cactus pads as described in the preparation section above. Once you have removed the needles, nodules and thoroughly washed the ads, boil in 3 cups of water with the garlic, onion, and salt. Drain. On each of 6 cactus pads place a slice of cheese and 3 to 4 pieces of onion. Top with another cactus pad, secure with wooden toothpicks and coat with flour. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then add the yolks and beat for 1 to 2 minutes more to create a batter. Heat the oil in a frying pan, dip the stuffed cactus pads into the egg batter and fry until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Serve drenched with cooked tomato sauce.

Nutritional Information:

505 Calories (kcal); 18g Total Fat; (33% calories from fat); 29g Protein; 53g Carbohydrate; 748mg Cholesterol; 246mg Sodium