I believe that I ate my first quesadilla as a college student. I spent two years in dorms before moving into a shared apartment as a junior in college, and that was when I started to learn all about making and cleaning up after dinner. Our kitchen was tiny and cramped with that odd assortment of college cooking implements that typically make up the college apartment kitchen: our own dishes and tools liberally mingled with the accumulated cast-offs of prior residents. In that kitchen, it was best to keep it simple, although I often failed to do so. It was just so exciting to finally be able to tinker in a kitchen, even if it was tiny and kind of icky.
This dinner is one that would have fit well in that little kitchen. Not only does it come together very quickly, it requires only one pan for cooking and it includes carbohydrate, protein, and veg all in one bite! It would be great for college and it is wonderful for a very quick dinner. Choose a protein based on your own personal taste, but start with one that is already cooked and seasoned so that you don’t have to take time for that part. I’ve included some ideas below.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon oil per person
- 2 handfuls washed baby spinach per person
- ¼ teaspoon of your favorite salted seasoning blend, or plain salt, per person
- 2-4 corn tortillas per person
- ¼-1/2 cup cooked protein per person (I used roasted and salted pepitas. You could use seasoned beans, canned chicken or fish, or just more cheese)
- ½ cup grated cheese per person
- Guacamole
Step 1: Place a pan over medium heat. When you can feel the heat coming through the pan, add the oil, spinach, and seasoning to the pan. Cook briefly until the spinach wilts. Remove spinach to a plate. Keep the pan warm.
Step 2: Place half of the tortillas in the pan. Top with a sprinkling of cheese. Add a layer of protein and the cooked spinach, and then finish with a second layer of cheese. Top with a second tortilla and flip the tortillas. Cook until the cheese melts.
Step 3: Serve tortillas with guacamole and enjoy!
