Mushroom Poblano Quesadillas

Last night Ellie Krieger fell into my bathtub.  (Well, maybe not Ellie herself, exactly, but her book So Easy).  She came out dripping wet and I knew that her well worn pages would warp as they dried, but the page I had marked was no worse for the wear and as always, she provided me with a delightful foundation on which to build tonight's dinner.

My husband is a meat guy.  Except for rare occasions, dinner without meat is really not dinner in his eyes, and quesadillas are definitely not a meal.  Trying to pull off a meatless version of Ellie's Quesadilla for a quick dinner was going to be a tough one, but with most of the ingredients on hand I thought I'd give it a go.  And low and behold... it worked.

Whole wheat tortillas filled with hearty (meat-like) mushrooms served as the base for my quesadilla filling and seemed to beautifully absorb the southwestern spices sprinkled over them as they cooked.  Onions, cilantro and poblanos rounded out the filling portion of the recipe and combined perfectly with the melted cheeses wrapped in the tortilla.  Fresh pico-de-gallo spooned over a dollop of sour cream with a sprinkle of cilantro finished off the plate as I put the finishing touches on the meal.

Adding a wedge of avocado for garnish, I held my breath as I placed the quesadilla with a salad in front of my husband.  Sparking a little conversation about the day, he dug into his meal and after a few bites he put down his quesadilla, reaching for water.  Still holding my breath I finally exhaled as he commented, "This is really good."  And then moved on to the next topic of conversation.

He didn't say another word about the meal, and definitely never commented that the quesadilla didn't contain any meat.  Leaving the table he even picked up a small remaining slice from the cutting board - a sure sign of something that he likes.  Smiling he rolled up his sleeves and actually started on the dishes as we cleaned up for the night.

Thanks Ellie.  You've done it again.

Easy Mushroom Poblano Quesadillas

adapted from So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week

1 tablespoon canola oil

• 1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
• 8 ounces  mushrooms, (about 3 cups)
• 1 medium poblano pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2-4 Tbs cilantro
• 4 (10-inch) whole-grain flour tortillas
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese mix or Cheddar
• scallions, chopped
• avocado
• sour cream
• pico-de-gallo or salsa (a tomatillo salsa would be wonderful!)

Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat.  When oil is warm, add the onion, mushrooms and poblano pepper and cook until the mushroom "water" has evaporated and the vegetables soften.  Add the garlic, spices (cumin through pepper), and cilantro cooking a minute or two until very fragrant.

Place another large skillet over medium high heat and oil pan lightly.  Lay a tortilla flat on the pan and add a handful of cheese over 1/2 of the tortilla.  Working quickly, add desired amount of the veggie mixture.  Sprinkle with more cheese and top with a sprinkle of chopped scallions.  Fold the tortilla in half and cook until the tortilla is browned and the cheeses are beginning to melt.  Flip the tortilla and cook an additional  few minutes until that side is browned and the cheese is fully melted.

Cut quesadillas in half and serve with your favorite garnishes and toppings... avocado, guacamole, sour cream, salsa and additional cilantro if desired.

Liv Life Note:  A handful of cooked chicken would be a wonderful addition to the quesadillas (as Ellie wrote the original recipe).   My husband fully enjoyed the amount of spices in the mixture, however I found the amounts to be a bit strong.  Adjust or not, according to your tastes.

Liv Life Note 2:  This versatile recipe is one of those where one can substitute what works for them and what they have on hand.  Don't like onion much?  Add less or eliminate it all together.  Love cilantro?  Add more.  etc.  Be creative and enjoy!