Green Chile & Cheese Quesadilla

Amounts below make enough to fill one 9-1/2-inch quesadilla.

To learn more, read:
Quick Quesadillas with a Green Chile Kick
by Martha Holmberg
from Fine Cooking
Issue 41
Last Edit Date: 7/12/2011 10:42:46 AM

The ingredient list is very flexible -- choose whatever cheeses and herbs you like and then garnish with almost any tasty leftovers. The important thing is to arrange all the ingredients and equipment ahead, because once you start frying, things move really quickly. To reduce the amount of oil, just fry one side of the tortilla, adding the filling to the unfried side. The result won't be quite as crisp and puffy, but it will be less rich.

more about:

2 Tbs. vegetable or olive oil
1 large flour tortilla (about 9-1/2 inches)
A generous 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 Tbs. crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbs. green chile salsa or your favorite salsa, plus more for dipping
2 Tbs. roughly chopped fresh cilantro

Optional ingredients

1/4 cup shredded leftover roasted, grilled, or barbecued chicken
2 Tbs. chopped tomatoes
2 Tbs. corn kernels
2 Tbs. cooked black, white, or pinto beans
1/4 cup diced or sliced avocado
1 egg, scrambled
1/4 cup mashed potatoes

Arrange all your ingredients so that they'll be easy to add to the quesadilla. Lay several layers of paper towel on a work surface, and have a rack and tongs ready.

Heat a large skillet (just a bit larger than the tortilla) until it's very hot, add the oil, and when it's very hot (but not quite smoking), lay the tortilla in the oil. Cook until the underside is slightly blistered and light brown, about 20 seconds. Lift the tortilla with the tongs, hold it over the pan to let most of the oil drip back in (if you like, lay it on the paper towels for a second to blot even more oil). Put the tortilla back in the pan, uncooked side down.

Quickly distribute the filling ingredients evenly over the tortilla. It will puff up in places, but that's fine. When the second side of the tortilla is browned and crisp but still pliable, fold the tortilla in half with the tongs, transfer it to the paper towels, blot for a few seconds, and then transfer to the cooling rack while you make the next. Cut into wedges and serve immediately, with more salsa if you like.

nutrition information (per serving):
Size : per quesadilla; Calories (kcal): 480; Fat (g): 32; Fat Calories (kcal): 290; Saturated Fat (g): 12; Protein (g): 16; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 9; Carbohydrates (g): 31; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 10; Sodium (mg): 820; Cholesterol (mg): 50; Fiber (g): 1;