Purslane Quesadillas

Name: Purslane Quesadillas
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 ounces purslane; Four 8-inch flour tortillas; 8 ounces low-moisture whole milk mozzarella or Oaxacan cheese, coarsely grated; 8 teaspoons prepared salsa verde; 4 teaspoons unsalted butter

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Level: Easy
Total: 20 min

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

These easy treats are inspired by Central American quesadillas and pupusas, which come filled with creamy, mild cheese and delicate squash blossoms or loroco, a mild edible vine. We subbed purslane, which has a similar vegetal flavor and a bit of crunch, and added a tiny bit of salsa verde for mild heat. Make sure to use low-moisture mozzarella, which doesn't make the tortilla soggy, or, if you are lucky enough to find it, the string-like Oaxacan cheese, which melts like a dream. If you have some chopped cilantro on hand, sprinkle it over the cheese along with the purslane.

Level: Easy
Total: 20 min

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

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4 ounces purslane

Four 8-inch flour tortillas

8 ounces low-moisture whole milk mozzarella or Oaxacan cheese, coarsely grated

8 teaspoons prepared salsa verde

4 teaspoons unsalted butter

Directions

Tear the purslane into 2- or 3-inch pieces, stripping the little shoots from the main stems; discard the woodiest pieces.
Lay the tortillas on your work surface. Sprinkle some cheese on half of each tortilla, leaving 1/2-inch border. Put some purslane on top of the cheese, and drizzle about 2 teaspoons of the salsa verde on top. Top the purslane with the remaining cheese. Fold the tortillas in half.
Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons of the butter and melt until the foam just about subsides. Put in 2 of the tortillas and cook, pressing lightly with a spatula once or twice, until the underside is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip, and cook until the second side is brown and the cheese is melted, about 2 more minutes.
Transfer the tortillas to a cutting board. Wipe out the skillet. Repeat with the remaining butter and tortillas, lowering the heat a bit if the butter or tortilla browns too quickly.
Use a pizza wheel or sharp knife to cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve immediately.