Lentil and Cactus Soup (Mom's Recipe)

Bring the water to a boil in a soup pot with 3 cloves of garlic. Stir in the lentils and 1 1/2 tablespoons of chicken bouillon. Simmer over medium-low heat until lentils are almost soft about 1 hour.

Heat extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet and cook and stir the onion and 2 chopped cloves of garlic until the onion becomes translucent about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and continue to cook and stir until the tomato releases its juice about 5 more minutes. Stir the tomato mixture into the lentil soup along with cumin and 2 more teaspoons of chicken bouillon or to taste. Bring the soup to a simmer stir in the nopales and potatoes and cook over low heat until the potatoes are tender about 20 minutes.