QUESADILLA: all time Favourite Mexican dish

Quesadilla means a tortilla(chapati like bread) filled with cheese and mixture of cooked meats or vegetables, then folded and fried on the griddle.  Basically it is a turnover flat bread.

Quesadilla was developed when Spanish settlers came to Mexico in the 16th century.   Cheese was brought to America by the Spanish and other Europeans along with dairy products. Mexico had the tortillas. Some guys in Northern Mexico(parts of what is now Southwestern US) invented flour tortillas and started making quesadillas which started to gain popularity in the rest of US.

A quesadilla is a tortilla made with white flour or corn, filled with cheese and then folded into half or semi circle. It can have other ingredients but it should always have melting cheese inside.  Melting cheese works to glue two halves together.

Quesadillas have a universal appeal among the children. The combo of white or wheat flour tortilla and melted cheese is quite easy for kids to get attracted. The best part is, this dish is a win win situation even for mothers with kids who do not like to eat vegetables. Cooked vegetables or chicken can be stuffed along with melting cheese to provide nutrients of all food groups to your little ones.

I made my own wheat flour tortilla or chapati. Stuffed it with boiled potato, carrot and peas combo by adding some spices.   Placed cheese slice on the vegetables and folded into a semi circle. Then pan fried it by adding a half teaspoon of oil till it turned golden brown. Once cool a bit, cut into slices with pizza cutter or sharp knife.

Ingredients:

Wheat flour dough to make 4 chapatis.  2 medium size potatoes, 1 big carrot, 1/4 cup fresh or frozen peas, 1/2 tsp chaat masala, salt to taste, 1/2 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp dry mango powder, 4 cheese slices, 1 tbsp of cooking oil or butter.

Method:

Take a small piece of dough, roll into a thin chapati, roast it on the griddle and put it aside. This is your wheat tortilla.

Boil potatoes, peel off and mash them. Then peel off carrot, cut into small slices and boil them along with peas. Drain the water. Now mix mashed potatoes, carrot and peas with spices. Let it sit for a few minutes. Divide into four parts. Take one part, spread inside a cooked chapati. Place a cheese slice by dividing into two parts. Fold it into a semi circle. Heat a non stick pan. Put 1/2 tsp of oil on the pan. Place the filled tortilla on it. Fry till golden brown. Flip the side and cook till golden brown .  Do the same with other three tortillas. Your quesadillas are ready. Cut into small slices and enjoy.