Cajun Quesadillas Recipes

SHRIMP QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent and peppers are soft, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir salt, cumin, and chili powder into onion and bell peppers.
• Stir shrimp into onion and bell peppers and cook until shrimp are opaque and no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat; stir jalapeno pepper and lime juice into shrimp mixture.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat and brush with about 1 teaspoon vegetable oil.
• Place a tortilla in the hot oil. Spoon about 1/6 shrimp filling and 1/2 cup Mexican cheese blend on one side of tortilla. Fold tortilla in half.
• Cook until bottom of tortilla is lightly browned, about 5 minutes; flip and cook other side until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the chipotle peppers and tomatoes. Cook until most of the liquid from the tomatoes has evaporated and the mixture is thickened, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir in the scallions, honey, chicken, salt and cilantro. Keep warm.
• Heat a sauté pan over medium heat and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Lay a tortilla in the pan and heat until hot to the touch but not crisp (air pockets may form). Flip the tortilla over, then sprinkle ⅔ cup of the cheese evenly overtop, being careful to keep it off the pan. Spread a generous ½ cup of the chicken mixture over half of the tortilla. When the cheese is mostly melted, fold the tortilla over to cover the filling and form a half-moon shape. Cook until the tortilla is crisp and golden and the cheese is melted, adjusting the heat as necessary, a few minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Let the quesadillas rest a few minutes to allow the filling to set, then cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream and lime wedges, if desired.
• Note: If you have a large griddle, use that to make the quesadillas so you can make a few at a time. Also, be sure to serve your quesadillas hot of the pan (or off the griddle), otherwise, they'll get soggy and the cheese will harden. If this does happen, you can pop them in a 350 F degree oven to heat them up, but they won't be as crisp and gooey as they are fresh. The chicken mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead, cooled, covered, and refrigerated.
• Note: The nutritional information does not include the optional ingredients.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked quesadillas can be frozen for up to 3 months. After defrosting in the refrigerator, reheat them, wrapped in foil, in a 325°F oven until hot, 20 - 30 minutes.

CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper and taco seasoning. Add the chicken to the skillet and saute over medium-high heat until done, about 4 minute per side. Remove from the skillet and dice into cubes. Set aside.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet over high heat. Throw in the onions and peppers and cook until the peppers have a few dark brown/black areas, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Sizzle 1/2 tablespoon of the butter in a separate skillet or griddle over medium heat and lay a flour tortilla in the skillet. Then build the quesadillas by laying grated cheese on the bottom tortilla, and then arranging the chicken and cooked peppers. Top with a little more grated cheese and top with a second tortilla.
• When the tortilla is golden on the first side, carefully flip the quesadilla to the other side, adding another 1/2 tablespoon butter to the skillet at the same time. Continue cooking until the second side is golden. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and fillings.
• Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with Pico de Gallo.
• Dice up equal quantities of tomatoes and onions. Roughly chop the cilantro.
• Now, slice 1 or 2 jalapenos in half. With a spoon, scrape out the seeds. (If you like things spicy, leave in some of the white membranes.) Dice the jalapenos very finely; you want a hint of heat and jalapeno flavor, but you don't want to cause any fires. Now dump the four ingredients into a bowl.
• Slice the lime in half and squeeze the juice from half the lime into the bowl. Sprinkle with salt, and stir together until combined. Be sure to taste the pico de gallo and adjust the seasonings, adding salt or more diced jalapeno if needed.

CAJUN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• 1. In a skillet, heat the oil. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and saute until tender about 3-5 minutes.
• 2. Place sauteed veggies, shredded chicken, shrimp and tomato in a bowl. Toss to mix well.
• 3. Heat a non stick skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray.
• 4. Place a tortilla in the skillet. Spread with 1/4 of the chicken mixture.
• 5. Top with 1/2 c of the cheese, 1/4 tsp. Cajun seasoning and Tabasco sauce to taste.
• 6. Cover with a second tortilla. Cook until lightly browned.
• 7. Flip carefully and cook other side until browned and cheese is melted. Repeat with other quesadillas.

SHRIMP QUESADILLAS WITH CAJUN REMOULADE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Make cajun remoulade by mixing mayonnaise with 2 Tbsp.
• cajun seasoning, Worcester sauce, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and Tabasco.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp.
• olive oil in skillet over high heat, 2 minutes.
• Toss shrimp with 1 tsp.
• of cajun seasoning and salt.
• Cook for 3 minutes.
• Transfer to large bowl.
• Add chiles and cilantro to shrimp and mix.
• Brush a large cookie sheet with olive oil.
• Arrange 1 tortilla on cookie sheet.
• Top with 1/2 of cheese and shrimp mixture.
• Place another tortilla on top of that.
• Brush lightly with olive oil.
• Bake 8 minutes, until lightly browned.
• Repeat with the remaining tortillas and mixture.
• Cut quesadilla into wedges and serve with the remoulade.

SPICY CAJUN SHRIMP QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Toss the black beans with the rice. Set aside.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. In a bowl toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon olive oil, cajun seasoning, creole seasoning, brown sugar, paprika, pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme and soy sauce. Set aside.
• Add the 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add the red pepper and saute for 3-5 minutes or until soft. Remove the pepper from the skillet and set aside.
• Add the shrimp and any sauce that is in the bowl with the shrimp to a skillet in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes, flip and sear another 3 minutes. Add the andouille sausage if using and continue to cook another 3 minutes or until warmed through. Try not to over cook the shrimp as it will continue to cook in the quesadillas.
• To assemble and cook the quesadillas, heat an electric griddle or skillet over medium heat. Add a bit of olive oil. Lay a tortilla flat on a cutting board and cover one half of the tortilla with a bit of the cheese, then evenly distribute the rice and beans on top. Add the red peppers, shrimp and sausage. Then add the pickled jalapeños and sprinkle with a little more cheese. Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the filling. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Working with one or two at a time, place the quesadillas in the skillet and cook until the bottom is crispy and golden brown, then gently flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until crispy and golden. Repeat with the remaining quesadillas. Serve with guacamole and fresh cilantro or parsley.

ROUND 2 RECIPE - CAJUN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and drizzle with canola oil. Place 1 tortilla in the skillet to warm. Sprinkle over half the cheese. Spread half the chicken mixture over the cheese and top with a second tortilla. Cook 3 minutes. Flip it over and cook until the bottom is browned and the cheese is melted, another 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat for the second quesadilla. Slice and serve with the remoulade and top with cilantro, if desired.