It’s late, you’re tired, and famished. What do you do? It’s times like these that a quesadilla, that deliciously cheesy stand-by, can be a true lifesaver. Like grilled cheese sandwiches, they’re simple, inexpensive, and most importantly, fast to make. And just like grilled cheese sandwiches aren’t always grilled cheese sandwiches, modern quesadillas shouldn’t be contained to just cheese and tortillas. Today we’re looking at unconventional quesadilla recipes that are pushing the boundaries of just what can be done with what’s in your fridge.
First up: quesadillas for breakfast. These can go sweet or savory, depending on your mood, and are a great way to break out of your bagel rut. For those with a sweeter tooth, make use of that fresh summer fruit with a strawberry, balsamic, and brie ‘dilla. As blogger Ashley notes, “Roasted strawberries with a touch of balsamic vinegar. Fresh spicy arugula. Brie (duh). All folded up in a hot quesadilla finished off with a drizzle of balsamic glaze (can’t get enough). What’s not to love?” Or perhaps you’re not sure what to do with those farmers market figs. Try them in a fig, pistachio, honey, and goat cheese version, which is fancy enough to make a regular weekday morning feel a little more special. Are you really hungry? Put a whole breakfast platter between two tortillas with this egg, sausage, spinach, mozzarella, and goat cheese quesadilla. (We think they forgot the hash browns, though!)
For a lunch or dinner quesadilla, why not take a trip around the world from the comfort of home? Go Greek with this fast “spanakopita,” which has spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta sandwiched between tortillas, instead of the traditional phyllo dough. Head east for a Thai-inspired quesadilla, stuffed with carrots, cilantro, greens, provolone, and a peanuty sauce. For something a little milder, head to Italy for a margherita pizza quesadilla, stuffed with tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella. You’re guaranteed to like it, according to blogger Mary: “It has four ingredients. It requires no fancy techniques. ANYONE COULD MAKE THIS. If you like pizza, you will like this. If you like mozzarella, you will like this. If you like basil, you will like this. If you’ve ever eaten anything Italian, you will like this. Really, it’s so simple it’s impossible not to like.”
Ready for dessert? Try this caramel, apple, and brie quesadilla, which mixes crunchy and creamy textures into a perfect little pocket. Top it with ice cream, and you’ve got a perfect summer dessert. Which quesadilla will you try?
Photo by Scrummy Lane
Alicia Hahn
Alicia Hahn excels at eating and enjoys writing, crosswords, and cooking (preferably with cheese). Originally from San Francisco, she moved to Boston for school and fell in love with the city (despite an annual campaign against winter). Her favorite place to be is the farmers’ market, where she finds weird and exciting ingredients to make or break her next meal.
