Recipe: Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas

It’s always a good time for Mexican food…. and lunch time is no exception. These Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas are perfect for a weekend lunch or even a mid week evening meal.

I came across a recipe using black beans and spinach in our local supermarket, Publix and thought the combination sounded interesting. I made numerous changes to the recipe since I found theirs bland.

I added a lot more seasoning and the addition of a bit of garlic and chopped green onion. I also used frozen spinach instead of fresh.

TIPS

If you don’t have a Quesadilla maker… you can still enjoy these… simply use a large skillet with a lid… spray it lightly with cooking oil spray… lay your tortilla on the skillet and put the shredded cheese over half of it… then some filling then a sprinkling of chopped green onion and then little more cheese… put the lid on and when the cheese begins to melt.. flip the dry side over the other half… covering the filling…press down lightly with a spatula and cook for about 2 minutes more.

Make sure you drain the spinach well after cooking.

I used my mini chopper to chop the onions and garlic together.

I like to cook my beans for about 5 minutes on high in the micro before mixing it into the spinach mixture.

I used my Fajita Seasoning to season this dish… for my recipe for Fajita Seasoning .. click the link… or use whatever Fajita Seasoning you want.

This recipe will make 4 “regular” 8 inch quesadillas or 8 if you do the fold-over method mentioned in the previous tip.

I use a pizza cutter to cut the quesadillas into pie slices.

Serve with sour cream, salsa and/or guacamole.






Recipe: Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas

All you need:

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen spinach, cooked and drained
1 large onion, chopped
1 large garlic clove, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons Fajita Seasoning
8 (8 inch) tortillas
1 pkg. (16 oz.) shredded Mexican blend cheese or Monterey Jack/Colby
4 green onions (both white and green parts), chopped
Sour cream
Salsa
Guacamole

All you have to do:

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium high heat.

Add the onions and garlic and stir well to evenly distribute the oil. Cook until the onions are tnder, do not let them brown… if they start to brown, lower the heat.

Add the cooked spinach and stir well.

Cook for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, microwave the black beans for 5 minutes on high.




Mix the spinach mixture and the partially cooked black beans.

Add the fajita seasoning and mix well.









Lay 1 tortilla on your quesadilla maker… then a generous amount of shredded cheese.









Spoon some spinach and black been mixture over the cheese.

Sprinkle with chopped green onions.









Sprinkle with shredded cheese and lay the top tortilla on top of the cheese.






Close the quesadilla maker and cook until cheese has melted and tortilla is slightly browned.

Cut the quesadilla into pie slices.

Serve hot.