Bring 4 litre water with 1 tablespoon salt, the onion, garlic, cilantro and tomatillo husks to a boil; drop in the cactus strips. (Tomatillo husks help retain the bright green color of the cactus.) Blanch the cactus until just crisp tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain strips in a colander and rinse with cool water. Place the meat in a pot with 3 cups of water. Simmer, covered, until the water is just about gone Tilt the pot and drain off the fat. To the drained meat, add garlic, the red chile sauce and spices. Simmer about 30 minutes. Taste for salt, then stir in the drained nopalitos. Simmer for 20 minutes. Blend the masa harina and the water to make a paste; whisk it into the stew for a thickener. Simmer 5 minutes longer, then stir in the cilantro. If you like a spicy stew, add the japones chile. Serve in bowls accompanied by warm tortillas. PER SERVING: 430 calories, 34 g protein, 14 g carbohydrate, 27 g fat (12 g saturated), 91 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 1 g fiber. From an article by Jacquiline Higuera McMahan in the San Francisco Chronicle