Squash-Blossom Quesadillas

Name: Squash-Blossom Quesadillas
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 20
Ingredients: 2 poblano chiles; 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil; 1 small white onion, peeled and chopped; 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced; 1 medium tomato, cored and chopped; 20 squash blossoms, cleaned (remove pistils) and chopped; 1 Tbsp. fresh or 1 tsp. dried epazote (optional); Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 lb. monterey jack cheese, grated; 2 lb. fresh masa; Lard or vegetable shortening

Serves
makes 20

Out of season, use canned squash blossoms.

Ingredients

2 poblano chiles
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 small white onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 medium tomato, cored and chopped
20 squash blossoms, cleaned (remove pistils) and chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh or 1 tsp. dried epazote (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. monterey jack cheese, grated
2 lb. fresh masa
Lard or vegetable shortening

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Instructions

Step 1

Set rack in top third of oven, then preheat broiler. Put chiles on a cookie sheet and broil until skin is blistered and charred, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chiles to a deep bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside until cool. Peel, stem, seed, and chop chiles, then set aside.

Step 2

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft, about 5 minutes, then add tomatoes and cook until liquid evaporates, about 4 minutes. Add squash blossoms, epazote (if using), and reserved chiles, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until blossoms soften and wilted.

Step 3

Lightly grease surface of a large cast-iron skillet with a little lard, then heat over medium heat until hot. Working in batches, remove plastic from quesadillas, then fry quesadillas until crusty and dark brown in patches, about 4 minutes per side. Serve hot.

VARIATIONS: For Quesadillas de Chiles (Chile Quesadillas): Make a filling by mixing together 3 chopped, seeded, peeled poblano chiles (see step 1), 1 lb. grated monterey jack cheese, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste in a bowl, then proceed with steps 3-5. For Quesadillas de Papas y Chiles (Potato and Chile Quesadillas), follow method for chile quesadillas above, adding 1 large diced, peeled, boiled russet potato to filling before proceeding to steps 3-5.