September 25, 2023
Introduction: In this article – in honor of today being National Quesadilla Day – Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers for delicious quesadilla recipes. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”
Today, September 25, is National Quesadilla Day. Even if you’ve never had Mexican food, chances are you’ve heard of a quesadilla. Chef and cookbook author Diana Kennedy describes the quesadilla as “Mexicans’ favorite simple snack.” She goes on to explain that the quesadilla is an uncooked tortilla stuffed with fillings that is folded over to make a turnover. Then they are “toasted on a hot griddle or fried until golden.” (1)
Most Americans probably consider a quesadilla a melted cheese sandwich in a tortilla – but in reality, quesadillas can be much more complex than that. Kennedy writes that the farther south in Mexico you travel, the more complex the quesadilla. Cheese can be accompanied by other ingredients such as epazote (an herb), chile poblano, potato, and chorizo (a type of sausage). (2)
Quesadilla Recipes
Quesadillas make a great meal, but they can also be part of an appetizer or charcuterie tray, where guests try different types accompanied with various toppings such as salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Need some quesadilla recipes beyond the melted cheese variety? Take a look at what you can find in newspapers.
Really, you can take almost any ingredient and use it as quesadilla filling. The filling can be as simple or as complex as meat + vegetables + cheese. Anything you like covered in melted cheese is a good start. My favorite quesadilla includes chopped onion, green chiles, chicken, and cheese.
Newspapers are a great place to find new recipes to try. I like this quesadilla recipe from the San Francisco Chronicle because it uses an ingredient that can be plentiful when growing zucchini in your garden: squash blossoms. This recipe has two parts, the filling and the tortilla, but feel free to use a store-bought tortilla to save time.
If you like jalapenos, you may want to try this recipe for Chicken Quesadillas with Pickled Red Onion and Jalapenos. This quesadilla recipe takes longer than usual because you need to pickle the onion and jalapeno first. But that can be done the day before or you can buy pickled vegetables in a Mexican market.
Although this quesadilla recipe from the Columbus Dispatch uses an Italian cheese, the combination of shrimp and beans is a great one to use to make a quesadilla for a meal. There’s no rule as to what cheese you have to use. Experiment with different types, including Mexican cheeses, to see what you prefer.
Sandwich Quesadilla
Quesadillas are similar to a sandwich, so it makes sense that you can create quesadillas based on your favorite sandwich. This Grill-Baked BLT Quesadilla recipe sounds like a good idea and allows you to try something new with an old favorite. I especially like that the mayo and lettuce are used as a topping. A well-known restaurant franchise does something similar with pizza. Either way you can’t go wrong with bacon.
Dessert Quesadilla Anyone?
You could get really creative with your quesadilla-making and use savory ingredients for a sweet dessert quesadilla. Several websites describe the ancient Aztecs eating quesadillas that were sweet and included squash fillings that were baked in a clay oven. (3) This Apple Pie Quesadilla uses flour tortillas to cover apple pie filling, cheddar cheese, and other ingredients. I’ve never tried a dessert quesadilla, but Diana Kennedy describes them as turnovers, so they can definitely be desserts.
What’s for Dinner?
That age-old question can be easily answered tonight: quesadillas! Quesadillas are easy to make. Ask the kids in your family to help, and the quesadillas can be filled with what you have on hand. Get creative and go beyond the plain cheese quesadilla for dinner tonight.
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Note on the header image: three quesadillas. Credit: Popo le Chien; Wikimedia Commons.
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(1) Kennedy, Diana. “The Tortilla Book.” Revised Edition. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991, p. 107.
(2) Ibid.
(3) “Quesadillas: A History and look into its Politics,” A Food Lovers Home Page https://datcwoissantsfoodies.food.blog/quesadillas-a-history-and-look-into-its-politics/: accessed 17 August 2023. “The History of the Quesadilla,” Backyard Taco https://backyardtaco.com/blog/history-quesadilla/: accessed 17 August 2023.
