Squash Blossom Quesadillas
Preparation
1 Prepare the squash blossoms: Check the insides of the blossoms for bugs (especially if you've picked the squash blossoms from your garden), rinse out if you find any or if the blossoms are dusty. Otherwise there should be no need to wash.
Cut away the stems. Roughly chop the blossoms, stamens and all.
2 Sauté onions and garlic: Heat the oil in a large sauté pan on medium high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté a minute more.
3 Add the squash blossoms and toss to coat with the garlic and onions. Cook for a minute or two more, until the blossoms are just wilted. Remove from heat.
4 Heat the tortilla until bubbles form: Heat a large cast iron pan or a large relatively stick-free skillet on medium heat. Rub a little butter in the pan (just enough to give the tortillas a little flavor). Place a corn tortilla in the pan and heat on both sides for half a minute or so, until bubbles begin to form in the tortilla.
5 Add cheese and squash blossom mixture: Place a slice or two of the cheese on one side of the tortilla. Top with a tablespoon or two of the squash blossom mixture.
Use a spatula to fold the other side of the tortilla over the side with the cheese and squash blossoms. Press down with a spatula. Cook until the cheese has melted and the tortilla lightly browned.
While the quesadilla is cooking, if your pan is large enough, you can start heating another tortilla in the pan.
6 Repeat then serve: When the cheese has melted, remove the quesadilla from the pan and continue to make the remaining quesadillas in the same manner. To serve, cut each quesadilla into triangles and serve with salsa, chopped fresh cilantro, avocado, black beans, Mexican queso crema (or diluted sour cream).
1 Prepare the squash blossoms: Check the insides of the blossoms for bugs (especially if you've picked the squash blossoms from your garden), rinse out if you find any or if the blossoms are dusty. Otherwise there should be no need to wash.
Cut away the stems. Roughly chop the blossoms, stamens and all.
2 Sauté onions and garlic: Heat the oil in a large sauté pan on medium high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté a minute more.
3 Add the squash blossoms and toss to coat with the garlic and onions. Cook for a minute or two more, until the blossoms are just wilted. Remove from heat.
4 Heat the tortilla until bubbles form: Heat a large cast iron pan or a large relatively stick-free skillet on medium heat. Rub a little butter in the pan (just enough to give the tortillas a little flavor). Place a corn tortilla in the pan and heat on both sides for half a minute or so, until bubbles begin to form in the tortilla.
5 Add cheese and squash blossom mixture: Place a slice or two of the cheese on one side of the tortilla. Top with a tablespoon or two of the squash blossom mixture.
Use a spatula to fold the other side of the tortilla over the side with the cheese and squash blossoms. Press down with a spatula. Cook until the cheese has melted and the tortilla lightly browned.
While the quesadilla is cooking, if your pan is large enough, you can start heating another tortilla in the pan.
6 Repeat then serve: When the cheese has melted, remove the quesadilla from the pan and continue to make the remaining quesadillas in the same manner. To serve, cut each quesadilla into triangles and serve with salsa, chopped fresh cilantro, avocado, black beans, Mexican queso crema (or diluted sour cream).