Fried bean quesadillas

Elegant food this may not be. Tasty, toasted, spicy goodness that can be eaten single handedly sans knife and fork? Definitely. Or you can eat it with a kife and fork if you want to. No biggie.


Many (many) years ago when Mr Shady Pine and I were first dating, I recall the first time we had a movie night at home and we decided to order pizza. Cute huh? Anyhow, the pizza from the local gourmet pizza shop arrived and we were pretty chuffed at having ordered a pizza from the 'gourmet' menu no less.


Whoever made the pizza that night was pretty heavy handed on the toppings as it was overflowing. As I settled on the sofa, Mr Shady Pine brought out plates with the steaming pizza....and some cuttlery. Now I am a girl who eats pizza with her hands but given the mega amounts of ingredients in this situation, it kind of seemed to make sense to eat it with cuttlery. I didn't give this a second thought.


A few weeks later, we ordered pizza again. This time from a pizza chain where the toppings were nowhere near as generous. Again, I settled on the sofa and Mr Shady Pine brought out the plates of pizza. And again, much to my surprise, he brought out cutlery. It was then that it dawned on me that Mr Shady Pine ate pizza with a knife and fork when I couldn't imagine not eating pizza with my hands. Since then, I've found out that hamburgers, finger food and all manner of snacks and meals can be eaten with a knife and fork. Take these quesadillas for example. Yup, knife and fork. Or you can just eat it using your hands. No biggie.


Fried bean quesadillas
Serves 2

Ingredients:
A press toaster can be used to cook the quesadillas

4 wholegrain tortilla
¾ cup grated tasty cheese
300g canned cannellini beans, rinsed
2 spring onions, chopped
1 large garlic clove, finely diced
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
S&P to taste
1 tbs olive oil
1 carrot, grated
¼ cup coriander leaves

1. Heat the olive oil in a non stick pan over medium heat. Add the spring onion and garlic and sauté for a minute.
2. Add the spices and fry for another minute. Add the beans and fry for another 1-2 minutes. Add S&P.
3. Using a fork, mash the bean mixture leaving it a little bit chunky.
4. Take 2 tortillas and spread half the bean mixture on each one. Top this with the grated carrot, coriander and grated cheese.
5. Place the remaining tortillas on top. Cook the quesadillas in a press toaster until golden brown and cheese has melted. Alternatively, cook in a non stick pan over medium heat turning over with a spatula so that both sides are toasted golden brown and the cheese is melted.
6. To serve, cut into triangles and top with sour cream and avocado salsa if desired.