Recipe courtesy of Steve McDonagh
and
Dan Smith
Topless Crispy Quesadilla with Cilantro Pesto and Mango Mojo on a Bed of Greens
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 4 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 4 servings
- Calories
- 1010
- Total Fat
- 84
- Saturated Fat
- 24
- Carbohydrates
- 46
- Dietary Fiber
- 5
- Sugar
- 22
- Protein
- 24
- Cholesterol
- 89
- Sodium
- 1278
- Total: 35 min
- Prep: 30 min
- Cook: 5 min
Ingredients
Cilantro Pesto:
1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Lime Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon Cilantro Pesto
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Mango Mojo:
1 ripe mango, peeled and sliced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon honey
Pinch salt
Quesadillas:
4 small flour tortillas
1 (12-ounce) package queso anejo
1 head Boston lettuce, washed and roughly torn
1 head red leaf lettuce, washed and roughly torn
Directions
- Pesto:
- Roughly chop the cilantro, making sure not to get too much of the stem. Place it in the bowl of a food processor along with the garlic, crushed red pepper, and coriander. With the processor running, add the oil in a slow stream. Let the processor run for about 30 seconds. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and pulse to combine. Set aside.
- Vinaigrette:
- Pour the lime juice into the cleaned bowl of the processor. Add the Cilantro Pesto and, with the processor running, add the oil in a slow stream. Process until the vinaigrette emulsifies. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and pulse. Set aside.
- Mojo:
- Place all the ingredients into the cleaned bowl of the processor and run until smooth. Set aside.
- Assembly:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spread a generous amount of pesto on each of the 4 tortillas, making sure that you spread the pesto almost to the edge of each tortilla. Shred a generous amount of the queso onto each tortilla. Spray a small saute pan with cooking spray and set it over moderately high heat for 2 minutes (you want to make sure the pan is very hot). Place 1 tortilla, cheese side up, into the pan and cook, shaking occasionally, for 1 minute. Transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with the other 3 tortillas. Place the baking sheet in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes.
- As the quesadillas are cooking, toss the lettuces together in a large bowl with 1/2 of the vinaigrette (reserve the rest for pork loin dish). Mound the salad onto 4 plates. Remove the quesadillas from the oven, allow to cool for a few minutes, and slice each into 4 pieces. Surround the salad with the 4 slices and drizzle with the Mango Mojo. Serve immediately.