Italian Quesadilla Recipes

ITALIAN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl combine the tomatoes, basil, olive oil and season to taste with balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
• In a mixing bowl combine the mozzarella cheese, ricotta, green onion, olives and artichoke hearts; season with salt and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Spread some mixture on one half of each tortillas, leaving about 1/4-inch between the filling and the edge of the tortilla. Fold each tortilla in half. Fry the tortillas in a little bit of vegetable oil for about a minute a side until golden and cheese has melted; keep warm in low oven until ready to serve. Top with tomatoes and basil and pine nuts.
• Alternate way to do is to preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spread stuffing over entire surface of tortillas without folding them. Set them on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted. Fold over and serve with topping.
• Especially good for children: set aside some plain mozzarella mixed with ricotta and fill the kids tortillas with this rather than the more elaborate filling.

SAUSAGE QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Crumble sausage into a large skillet; cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain; set sausage aside. In the same skillet, saute onion and red pepper in 1 teaspoon oil for 5 minutes. Add corn and seasonings. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in tomato and sausage; heat through., Spoon over one side of each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese; fold over. Cook in remaining oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes on each side or until cheese is melted. Cut each into three wedges. Serve with sour cream and salsa if desired.

RACHAEL RAY'S CAPRESE MEZZA LUNA (ITALIAN QUESADILLA)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a small pot with garlic until it bubbles, simmer a minute. Brush a skillet with garlic oil and heat over medium-high heat.
• Add the first tortilla and blister it 30 seconds, flip and cover half of the surface with arranged layers of mozzarella, basil and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and fold over the quesadilla.
• Cook 30 seconds on each side to set. Remove from pan and repeat. Cut into quarters and serve as appetizers.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE QUESADILLAS (OAMC)

Steps:

• Brown sausage.
• Divide sausage evenly between 18 tortillas, sprinkle with Parmesan, Italian cheese, and roasted red peppers.
• Heat butter or oil on griddle, brown both sides of quesadilla.
• Quesadillas can be eaten immediately, or frozen in ziploc bag and warmed in microwave as needed.