Joanie's Cactus Salad

This recipe from Josie Slonaker of Corpus Christi was judged Best of Show at the Texas Prickly Pear Council's 1992 festival cookoff. It appears in Cookin' with Cactus.

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Yields: 10 Cups

Ingredients

• 3  large tomatoes, diced
• 1  large red onions or 1  large sweet onion, diced
• 4  large  nopalitos cactus pieces, with thorns and eyes removed,diced
• 2  cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 -2  serrano pepper, chopped
• 1⁄2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 (15 ounce) cans  ranch style beans, drained
• 1 (16 ounce) bottle  Catalina dressing (sweet, red French salad dressing)
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) bag nacho cheese flavored tortilla chips

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients except chips, and chill at least 2 hours.
2. To serve, place salad in a large bowl set on a platter, and arrange chips around bowl.
3. Use chips to scoop up salad.