Mexican cuisine is known for its varied flavors, wide use of spices and fresh vegetables, fruit and beans. Each region in Mexico offers its own traditional variety of food and flavors and they all differ greatly in cuisine and style of cooking. However, many of the Mexican dishes we eat outside of Mexico are often not the authentic Mexican cuisine. Generally it is a fusion of some kind and more often than not it has been adapted and Americanized to what we know as Tex-Mex.
I think I will classify my own dish in this category. It's not entirely an authentic Mexican dish but uses typical flavors and ingredients of Mexico. Quesadillas are something I often make to satisfy hungry mouths. They are versatile and can pretty much be filled with anything you have on hand. Quesadillas always come to the rescue when you are in desperate need of a quick dinner.
Being at the beginning of Summer Break we often have the house full of Soeren's buddies. Boys will be boys and are currently running wild like coyotes on the prairie. In between hockey games, Nintendo, bike riding and re-discovering the neighborhood they always come home hungry.
"Mum can: Ben, Tim, Tobias, Finn, Sebastian, Eric and Max stay for dinner?" Soeren asks innocently. I know if I peak around the corner, Ben, Tim, Tobias, Finn, Sebastian, Eric and Max are all standing waiting meekly for my answer. I have no choice.
"Sure they can!" my mind racing to answer the inevitable next question.
"What's for dinner?"
"Mexican!" it's always a crowd pleaser and this time it's no different. Eight happy faces run off with huge smiles all screaming "YAAAH!"
Me - I rummage in my pantry to see what ingredients I can forage that might qualify as Mexican.
Black Bean and Goat Cheese Quesadilla
Printable version of recipe here.
Ingredients
450g can black bean, washed and drained
1 large tomato - chopped
150g goat cheese, crumbled
1 medium sized red onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon red chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
handful cilantro/coriander leaves, chopped
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2-3 tablespoons olive oil2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled and cubed
juice of 1 lime6 whole wheat tortillas
Method
- Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until fragrant and opaque - about 5 minutes.
- Add beans together with 1 teaspoon ground cumin, cinnamon and chili powder and stir to incorporate the spices. Throw in the chopped tomatoes and stir. Allow to cook for about 3 minutes to release the aromas of the spices, then add about 150 to 200 ml of water. Simmer, stirring occasionally until the water has evaporated - about 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Using the back of a fork mash just part of the bean mixture up to give a chunky mixture. Stir in half of the the cilantro/coriander leaves and season to taste.
- To make a quick guacamole put the avocado cubes, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, rest of the cilantro/coriander leaves and lime juice into a clean bowl and mash coarsely with the back of a fork or a potato masher. Season to taste. This will give you a nice chunky paste.
- To get the quesadillas going lightly brush or spray a skillet with oil and over medium heat place one of the tortillas in the skillet. Spread the black bean mixture over the tortilla, leaving about 1 com space along the edges. Scatter some crumbled goat cheese and cover with a second tortilla.
- Brown each side of the tortilla for approx. 2 minutes. Proceed in this manner until all the tortillas have been used. Cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve with a dollop of guacamole.
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Serve this with a helping of this corn-coriander salad
Verdict
Always a huge hit with the kids. They love the fact that they can simply pick these up with their hands and gobble them down without the unnecessary use of cutlery. They were scooping up the salad with the quesadillas! The next time I met a few of the mums, they asked what it was i served them for dinner. Their boys were craving the meal at home and wanted their mums to make it at home. I had to laugh when I went through the ingredient list and the mums looked at me, eyes wide open - "My son does not eat beans!" "My son does not eat avocados!" "My son never likes spices in his food!" "My son ate chili?". What can I say ladies "Yes you sons do eat all this stuff!" and here is the recipe for you to make at home.
It's not fiery hot - just piquant to give it a bit of oomph! The beans are creamy and the tomatoes gives the mixture a bit of tartness. The spices simply culminates the entire dish of perfectly.
As I am going over to Jenny's to the fiesta of the month I plan on taking a large batch of the black bean and goat cheese quesadillas with me. Hope you will join the Monthly Mingle party this month too. See you there!
You might like these from WFLH:
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Black Bean Chili with Saffron Rice and Papaya Guacamole | Cheese Quesadillas with Two Salsas - Fruity and Spicy |
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2009 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First
Love the recipe! I added some homemade salsa to make the guacamole. Right now, lots of cilantro is growing in the garden so it is a perfect recipe to use some of it up. I didn't have goat cheese, but used old cheddar. Next time, it'll be goat cheese!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I'm sure these could satisfy adults alike! what a great idea to use goats cheese here...and a little bit of chili never hurt anyone! Great recipe Meeta!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a COOL mom!
ReplyDeleteFrom a Texan who knows her Tex Mex, these look delicious! Goat cheese is being used here more and more often since its a healthier choice. If this was on a menu I would order it! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteThis is an elegant quesadillas...goat cheese, yummie yummie. I'll sure try it!
ReplyDeletewhat a nice dish. I love black beans :)
ReplyDeleteI'm addicted to Tex-Mex food! Lately, I've been making many tortillas based dishes...
ReplyDeleteThose Quesadillas look so good!
Cheers,
Rosa
I can see why those kids like this dish so much Meeta! I would too!! I am still impressed though how you can simply improvise a meal for 7 more kids! I say... wow... I am not sure I would have been able to handle the pressure...:)
ReplyDeleteMeeta, this is so tempting. I just can't get enough goat cheese lately. I'd love to try this.
ReplyDeleteI don't care whether it's authentic or not, this is a great recipe. Love all the flavours you have here!
ReplyDeleteQuesadillas are so versatile, aren't they...love your version.
ReplyDeleteWow, those kids had a gourmet treat, huh? I love goat cheese in anything and the quesadillas look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThese are always a huge hit in our house, too. Almost anything in a quesadilla goes over well with our grandkids.
ReplyDeletethe ikea stuff is coming out eh? such pretty colours both food and props!
ReplyDeleteThis is my go to emergency meal.
ReplyDeleteMuch of the time I had spinach just because I know it's so good for us and I almost always have it.
Great pictures ... always.
I love making Quesadillas for Saturdays when we are just lazing around the house. This is an interesting new filling to add to my repertoire. Thx for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteblack bean and goat cheese quesadillas sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteNice recipe, I'm going to try this one out!
ReplyDeleteI'm all over that guacamole!! :-D
ReplyDeleteGoat cheese must be very good in combination with beans.
ReplyDeleteThose quesadillas look good! With the black beans, goat cheese and guac this would make for one really creamy meal.
ReplyDeleteQuesadillas are our life savers:-) as i think all moms would say. Really like your version with goat cheese.
ReplyDeleteThese really are kid friendly. I sometimes use my leftover chappathis to make these depending on what I have to fill them with.
ReplyDeleteYour son wanting his friends to stay for lunch brought a smile to my lips. My daughter was just asking the same thing (only 2 friends though) yeaterday!
hi
ReplyDeleteMeeta
A great great dish will have to an Indian version how about PANEER in place of goat cheese as i dont think we can find goat cheese here in India.
Meeta how do you get the tags on your posts like "recipes" or the "tips"
It sure looks delicious, Meeta!
ReplyDeletehai.this great receipe for me..thanks for sharing...in my blog i too have some receipes please visit us.
ReplyDeleteThat's a delicious combo there hon.
ReplyDeleteahhhhh, goat's cheese. Probably my favourite thing to eat in the world!
ReplyDeleteYou most be the most popular mum on the block :) These look delicious...my husband loves Mexican food so I always keep an eye out for recipes like these! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLovely and hearty and Filling.I could go on and on..Can I invite myself over for these? :P I love quesadillas
ReplyDeleteAmazing Recipe! I love it! I work with Chavrie fresh goat cheese and our quesadillas are always a big hit and your recipe sounds just delicious. I will be sharing this on my site! Thanks
ReplyDeletegoat cheese is such an interesting combination Meeta. Looks fantastic as always :)
ReplyDeleteOh yum! I really like the use of the goat cheese with these.
ReplyDeletegirl i just love this combination! how perfect. in Mexico, one of my favorite things to enjoy, which you can't find here, are sopes! They are amazing! Kind of glad they're just there--keeps them special.
ReplyDeleteenjoy your vacay!
I've been looking for a decent recipe to use some black beans that I bought a while back so this will fit the bill nicely.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo's too as always.
So glad you all are enjoying the recipe. quesadillas are indeed often lifesavers and they always manage to please a house load of friends.
ReplyDeletethank you for you comments!
I recently wrote an article on Black Bean Quesadillas, but yours look amazing! I am going to try these soon. My husband loves goat cheese and I think these look incredible.
ReplyDeleteI tried my own version of a vegetarian quesadilla which is I maintain in my food journal at http://bit.ly/9t9q5v
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of making tortillas at home using whole wheat flour and some tomato paste put skipped due to sheer laziness... That's something I'll be trying next for sure!
Love your recipes!
Hello Meeta,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit to your lovely kitchen :)
I am so glad I came across your blog.
I am an amateur cook!! I have started to experiment in my kitchen....I am going to try the quesadilla recipe tonight and will keep you posted.
I loved browsing through many recipes. I have bookmarked few and will give it a shot.
The Pictures, Description, Quilt of words is fantastic!! You write so well that a new cook like me is tempted to experiment :)
Thanks for sharing Meeta!!
Sheela
Hey Meeta,
ReplyDeleteA quick line, I made the quesadilla. It turned out so yummy!!!!
By chance do you know how to make the open stack style of buritto? without the buritto.
I love this stack at a particular place here in US called as Golden temple. It is basically some flavored brown rice layered with black bean,tomato salsa topped with guacamole and sour cream. I miss this eatery place ever since I have moved to a different state in US. I don't know how to make th brown rice so flavorful?
Any clue about this recipe?
Thanks Meeta!!
Sheela