Dinner-for-breakfast or breakfast-for-dinner, put a platter of these portable five-bite snacks on the table at any time of day and you'll have everyone eating out of your hand. They've got it all -- everything anyone could want in terms of Tex-Mex start-to or end-of the day flavor and texture. Creamy refried beans, gooey cheddar-Jack cheese, and, Sriracha- cilantro- and scallion-laced scrambled eggs sandwiched between crisp-tender flour tortillas. Topped with a bit of pico de gallo, a drizzle of Mexican crema and a dollop of guacamole, who could ask for anything more?
Quesadilla (keh-sah-DEE-yah): A round, flat, cooked-until-soft corn or flour tortilla, folded in half to form a half-moon with a savory filling sandwiched in the center. It is fried on a well-seasoned cast-iron comal (a flat, round griddle), using no or very little oil, although in many modern kitchens, mine included, a grill pan is a common substitution.
Almost any cooked and chopped or shredded meats and/or vegetables can be used as a filling for a quesadilla (fish and seafood are not typically used) -- the meats and vegetables must always be cooked first because a quesadilla cooks in a few short minutes. That said, since "queso (KAY-soh)" is the Spanish word for "cheese": a quesadilla is a container for ooey, gooey melted cheese. Be sure to purchase:
your favorite brand of 8" round taco-size soft flour tortillas
For the scrambled eggs* for each quesadilla:
1 teaspoon salted butter
2 jumbo eggs + a pinch of salt
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons thinly-sliced scallions
1 tablespoon minced, fresh cilantro leaves
2-3 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
*These herbaceous scrambled eggs, on their own without a flour tortilla: are eggstraordinary.
~Step 1. Slice the scallions and mince the cilantro. In a 1-cup measuring container, whisk together the eggs, pinch of salt and milk. Add the scallions and cilantro and whisk again. Add the Sriracha and whisk one last time. I add 2 teaspoons Sriracha for myself. I add 3 teaspoons when making these quesadillas for my heat-seeking husband Joe.
~Step 2. Melt butter in an 8" nonstick skillet over low heat. When butter is foamy, pour in the egg mixture, and, scramble away for about 1 minute. Remove eggs from heat, cover and set aside.
To assemble/cook each quesadilla:
1 tablespoon corn or canola or vegetable oil
1 taco-size soft flour tortilla
6 tablespoons creamy refried beans
8 tablespoons finely-shredded Mexican cheddar-Jack cheese blend
all the scrambled eggs, from above recipe
~Step 1. Slather the tortilla with refried beans, then scatter shredded cheese evenly over the top.
~Step 2. Place oil in a 10" nonstick skillet. Use a paper towel to coat the bottom and sides of pan with the oil. Adjust heat on stovetop to medium- medium-low. Lift and carefully place the tortilla in the skillet. Using a spoon, place the scrambled eggs over half of the surface (think half-moon of scrambled eggs). Cook until cheese is melted and bottom of tortilla is golden brown, but not brittle, about 1 minute. Lift the "empty" side of the tortilla up and over the side with the eggs. Slide quesadilla from skillet to plate or cutting board.
For my favorite accompaniments and garnishes:
pico de gallo or store-bought salsa fresca
Mexican crema or sour cream
spicy avocado crema or store-bought guacamole
thin-sliced scallion tops and/or minced, fresh cilantro leaves
~Step 1. Use all of them, none of them or some of them. Your choice.
Have a moment of mouthwatering patience (tick, tock)...
... you gotta wait 1 minute before slicing it into three wedges.
Salsa fresco, Mexican crema & Wholly guacamole! Let's eat:
Spicy and Cheesy Breakfast-for-Dinner Quesadillas: Recipe yields instructions to make 1 breakfast quesadilla/3 hearty pieces/1 serving.
Special Equipment List: cutting board; chef's knife; 1 cup measuring container; fork; 8" nonstick skillet w/lid; nonstick spatula; 10" nonstick skillet; paper towels; serrated bread knife
Cook's Note: At risk of sounding sexist: Buffalo wings are man food. To state it another way, if I'm inviting a group of women to my home for lunch, serving chicken wings is "off the table". If I'm inviting men, chicken wings are "on the table". That said, for a casual gathering for men and women, there are ways we can all work together to include user-friendly buffalo-style snacks and appetizers for all to enjoy: ~ Spicy Blue-Cheesy & Buffalo-Chicken Quesadillas ~
"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti
(Recipe, Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2019)
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