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broccoli quesadilla
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Broccoli Cheddar Quesadillas

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 2 servings (4 small quesadillas)
Author: Aleksandra

Ingredients

  • 8 small tortillas about 7-inch/18 cm
  • 8 oz (250g) sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 tablespoons frying oil
  • 1 head broccoli 1lb/500g
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Prepare your ingredients: Chop the broccoli into very small florets. You can also use the broccoli stem - just peel it and chop roughly. Grate the cheese on the big holes of a box grater. Finely chop the garlic.
  • Cook broccoli: Heat 2 Tbsp of oil on a big frying pan. Add the chopped broccoli. Cook over high heat, stirring from time to time until the broccoli is tender, browned but still a little crunchy. It will take about 5-10 minutes, depending on your pan and stovetop. If your broccoli is already browned but still tough you can add a small amount of boiling water to the pan to speed up the cooking process.
  • Add the chopped garlic and basil. Cook, stirring, for about a minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer the broccoli to a plate.
  • Assemble the quesadilla: If you have small tortillas: Sprinkle 1/3 cup of loosely packed shredded cheese over the tortilla, top with 1/2 cup of cooked broccoli, and sprinkle another 1/3 cup of shredded cheese on top (spread all the ingredients in an even layer). Place another tortilla on top. If you have bigger tortillas: Top 1/2 of one big tortilla with the cheese and broccoli. Fold the tortilla in half. These quesadillas are easier to flip over, it is very difficult to flip over a big double-tortilla quesadilla.
  • Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
  • Cook the quesadillas: Clean the pan with a paper towel and heat 1 Tbsp of oil. Place the quesadilla in the pan. Move it around to make sure it doesn't stick. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown then flip over using two spatulas and cook on the other side until browned and crispy (you can tell that the quesadilla is ready to flip over when the edges are golden, insert a spatula under the tortilla to see if it's browned).
  • Transfer the quesadilla to a chopping board. Sprinkle with a little salt. Cut into 8 parts / triangles (a pizza cutter is great for that).
  • Serve with tomato salsa and enjoy!

Notes

  • Calories: 1 serving (1/2 of the recipe). This is only an estimate!
  • Corn or pan-fried chicken breast would be a great addition.
  • What to serve it with: tomato salsa (for us is mandatory for this recipe!) or guacamole, pico de gallo.
  • Very important: make sure that the broccoli is nicely browned - this is what gives it flavor! It shouldn't be overcrowded in the pan (otherwise it will steam instead of brown). It can take longer or shorter and it also depends on the pan you're using!
  • Storage: You can store these broccoli quesadillas in the fridge, in a tightly closed container or wrapped in plastic foil for up to 3 days. You can reheat them on a pan – just cook them on a dry non-stick pan on both sides until warm. You can also warm them up in an oven preheated to 320-350°F (160-180°C). These quesadillas also taste good cold, but when left for too long they’re becoming soft, losing their crunchiness. They can be reheated but taste best freshly cooked.
  • Make it ahead: the filling can be made ahead. You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days and cook it with the tortillas just before serving. Tastes as freshly made!
  • Freezing: wrap each quesadilla in plastic wrap or place it in a tightly closed container (but separate each quesadilla with a piece of baking paper so they won’t stick to each other) and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost in the fridge then warm up on the stove or in the oven or defrost directly in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 1301kcal