Surely you’ve heard of the quesadilla! It is one of the best Mexican comfort foods around. They are super easy to make and always delicious. Keep reading to learn how to make a quesadilla on the stove.
What Is a Quesadilla?
The quesadilla is a 16th-century Mexican cuisine. Quesadillas were traditionally created with a maize tortilla toasted on a griddle, stuffed with cheese and other contents (meat, veggies), and folded over for eating.
In Spanish, “queso” means “cheese.”A quesadilla is a tortilla that has been heated and filled with melted cheese. Aside from cheese, a quesadilla can be filled with almost anything.
What is Tortilla?
A good rhyme to remember is that “You can’t have a quesadilla without a tortilla.” Tortillas are a form of flatbread that originated in Mexico & Central America. They can be manufactured from nearly any flour, although the most frequent is nixtamalized corn and wheat flour. The type of tortilla you use depends on the texture you desire and how much additional filling you want in your quesadilla besides cheese.
What Kind Of Quesadilla Tortillas Do You Use?
Before you begin making quesadillas, you need to select your tortillas. I suggest using large and thin wheat flour tortillas. These provide enough surface area for the toppings to be spread out while still leaving a space around the edge to keep the cheese from seeping out. They’re also thin enough so the heat can go inside the quesadilla and soften up the ingredients. The wheat flour tortilla is also more robust, so it will not come apart in the pan. This is especially important if you want to flip your quesadilla.
Because corn tortillas are less flexible, I do not recommend corn tortillas if you wish to flip your quesadilla rather than heating the two tortillas separately because corn tortillas are less flexible. On the other hand, Corn tortillas will work OK if they are cooked individually, as long as they are not broken. Don’t worry if you’re allergic to gluten or wheat. Gluten-free tortillas are delicious and work great.
Quesadilla Cheese
To prepare a quesadilla, you can use any type of cheese you like. Mexican shredded cheese is the most popular. Mozzarella cheese is ideal for quesadillas since it is readily available and tastes similar to Mexican cheese. Light cheddar, Alpine-style cheese (such as Swiss), or Gouda are other excellent choices.
Quesadilla Fillings
The only limit on the fillings for your quesadillas is your imagination. In a quesadilla, you can use any savory flavors you like that go well with cheese. The following are some of the more popular fillings:
- Pulled pork
- Shredded Chicken
- Grilled Vegetables
- Bacon
- Salami
- Fried onions or scallions, diced
- Cilantro, fresh
- Tomatoes
- Tomatillos
As a general rule, if anything would be fantastic on a pizza, it should also be delicious inside a cheese quesadilla.
How To Make A Quesadilla On The Stove
Ingredients
- 2 flour tortilla wraps, large
- Oil for cooking
- 1 pound of shredded cheese
- Additional fillings of your choice
Directions
- Heat a dry skillet over medium-low heat. If desired, heat with a bit of oil added.
- Place the tortilla in the pan.
- Cover the half surface of flour tortillas with cheese and any of your other favorite fillings.
- Fold your flour tortilla’s empty side over the filled side.
- Cook until the cheese has melted and the bottom tortillas are golden and crispy, pressing both together with your spatula.
- Flip the tortilla and cook for a minute or two on the other side.
- Transfer to a work surface and cut into slices.
- Clean the pan and repeat the process to make another quesadilla.
- Serve with salsa, guacamole, and/or sour cream if desired.
How To Make A Quesadilla On The Stove
Ingredients
- 2 flour tortilla wraps large
- Oil for cooking optional
- 1 pound of shredded cheese
- Additional fillings of your choice
Instructions
- Heat a dry skillet over medium-low heat. If desired, heat with a bit of oil added.
- Place the tortilla in the pan.
- Cover the half surface of flour tortillas with cheese and any of your other favorite fillings.
- Fold your flour tortilla's empty side over the filled side.
- Cook until the cheese has melted and the bottom tortillas are golden and crispy, pressing both together with your spatula.
- Flip the tortilla and cook for a minute or two on the other side.
- Transfer to a work surface and cut into slices.
- Clean the pan and repeat the process to make another quesadilla.
- Serve with salsa, guacamole, and/or sour cream if desired.
How to Keep Quesadillas Warm
A quesadilla can be kept warm in the oven at a low temperature for a short period of time after cooking. However, to avoid burning or drying out, do not leave them in there for an extended period of time. You may also reheat a cold quesadilla by placing it in the microwave for a minute or two. However, if you microwave it, you’ll lose some of the crispiness. The best way to ensure that a quesadilla stays crispy on the outside while being moist on the inside is to cook it fresh and consume it as soon as it is made.