Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a delightful Mexican dish that can be filled with a variety of ingredients, making them a quick and tasty choice for any meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 6-8 pieces flour tortillas (20cm/8")
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or other cheese of choice) (Note 1)
- ¾ cup roughly chopped coriander/cilantro
- 1 cup corn kernels (frozen, thawed, or canned, drained)
Beef Filling
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ piece onion, finely chopped
- 500 g ground beef 1 lb
- 1 small red capsicum/bell pepper, diced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ¼ cup water (65 ml)
Chicken Filling
- 2 ½ tbsp olive oil
- 500 g chicken thighs (skinless boneless) (Note 2)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, quartered and sliced
- 1 small red capsicum/bell pepper, diced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Vegetable Filling
- 1 piece onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can black beans, drained (400g/14oz)
- 1 capsicum/bell pepper, diced (any color)
- 1 cup corn (canned, drained, or frozen, thawed)
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup water (65 ml)
Instructions
Preparation
- Start by preparing your filling of choice. Choose between beef, chicken, or vegetables.
- For all fillings, combine onion powder, dried oregano, salt, cumin powder, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if desired).
Cooking Beef Filling
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Add garlic and onion, cooking until soft.
- Add ground beef and season with spice mix. Cook until browned.
- Stir in diced capsicum, tomato paste, and water. Simmer for a few minutes.
Cooking Chicken Filling
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Add garlic and onion, cooking until soft.
- Add chicken thighs and season with garlic and diced capsicum. Cook until browned.
Cooking Vegetable Filling
- Heat vegetable oil in a pan. Sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- Add black beans, diced capsicum, corn, tomato paste, and water. Cook until heated through.
Assembling Quesadillas
- Place a tortilla in a skillet, sprinkle cheese on half, add your filling of choice, then top with more cheese and fold the tortilla in half.
- Cook on both sides until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Notes
Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve warm. You can pair them with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole to enhance the flavors. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.