Pesto And Goat Cheese Quesadillas Recipes

GOAT CHEESE QUESADILLAS WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• In a skillet cook onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Transfer onion mixture to a food processor and add roasted peppers, basil, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend sauce until smooth and transfer to a small bowl. (Sauce may be made up to 3 days ahead and chilled, covered.)
• Put 1 tortilla on a work surface and spread with 1 goat cheese piece, covering surface evenly. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto over goat cheese and cover with one fourth of onion. Repeat layering in the same manner, ending with a tortilla and gently pressing layers together. Make 1 more layered quesadilla with the remaining tortillas, goat cheese, pesto, and onion. Spread top and bottom of each quesadilla with 1/2 tablespoon butter.
• Heat a griddle or well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook quesadilla, 1 at a time, gently pressing down with a metal spatula, until golden, about 4 minutes on each side. Cut each quesadilla into 8 wedges and serve warm with roasted red pepper sauce.
• To Roast Peppers:
• Using a long-handled fork, char peppers over an open flame or on a rack set over an electric burner, turning them, until skins are blackened, 4 to 6 minutes. (Or broil peppers on a rack of a broiler about 2 inches from heat, turning them every 5 minutes, 15 to 20 minutes, or until skins are blistered and charred.) Transfer peppers to a bowl and let stand, covered, until cool enough to handle. Keeping peppers whole, peel them, starting at blossom end. Cut off pepper tops and discard seeds and ribs.

SPINACH AND GOAT CHEESE QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Wash the spinach but do not dry. If using bunch spinach, chop coarsely. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy frying pan. Add the garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then stir in the spinach. Raise the heat, and stir just until the spinach wilts. Remove from the heat. Press down on the spinach with the back of your spoon, and drain off any water in the pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• In a microwave: Place a corn tortilla on a plate. Top with half the spinach, and spread in an even layer. Sprinkle on half the cheese, and top with another tortilla. Press down gently, then microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Remove from the microwave, cut into quarters or sixths, and serve. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• In a pan: Place a corn tortilla in the pan. Top with half the spinach, and spread in an even layer. Sprinkle on half the cheese. Turn the heat to medium-high, and heat until the cheese begins to melt. Place another tortilla on top of the cheese, and press down lightly. Flip the quesadilla over in the pan, and heat for about 30 seconds or until the cheese has melted. Flip back over, and remove to a plate. Cut into quarters or sixths, and serve. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.

PESTO AND GOAT CHEESE QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over med/med high heat.
• Meanwhile, spread one side of one tortilla with goat cheese. Spread one side of the other tortilla with pesto.
• Sandwich tortillas together with the filling on the inside.
• When oil is hot, add the quesadilla to the pan. Cook until the bottom side is crispy and golden brown.
• Flip quesadilla and continue cooking on the remaining side. If necessary, you may add a splash more olive oil at this step.
• When quesadilla is golden brown and crispy on both sides, remove from pan and drain on a paper towel.
• Slice into 6-8 servings (depending on size) and serve hot.