Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
Fajita Quesadillas -- 05/17/12

Fajita Quesadillas

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon high-heat oil, such as safflower or grapeseed oil
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and julienned
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and julienned
  • 1/2 large red onion, peeled and finely julienned
  • 1 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into thin slices
  • 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup grated vegan cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated vegan mozzarella cheese
  • 1 bunch scallions, green parts only, cut on the bias
  • Ten 8- to 10-inch flour tortillas
  • Vegan butter or extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
  • 2 small, firm avocados
  • Chipotle Cream (recipe follows)

  • For the Chipotle Cream:
  • One 7-ounce can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
  • 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
  • Kosher salt

Yields: 10 quesadillas

Preparation

Toss the oil, bell peppers, onion, zucchini and lemon pepper seasoning in a medium bowl. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Preheat a grill pan or large sauté pan over high heat. Add the vegetables and cook until they are soft and charred. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the vegetables to cool.

Place the vegetables in a bowl, add the vegan cheddar and mozzarella and scallions, and toss together.

Fill a flour tortilla with about 1⁄3 cup of the vegetable-cheese mixture, fold the tortilla in half, and set aside. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

Heat a large, nonstick pan over medium heat and add a dab of vegan butter or a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Cook the quesadillas in the pan, two at a time, about 2 minutes on each side, or until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese has melted.

Cut each quesadilla into thirds, and top each piece with a couple of thin slices of avocado and a drizzle of the chipotle cream.

For the Chipotle Cream:
In a small bowl, mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of the thick liquid sauce in the can of chipotles with the vegan mayonnaise. Store the chiles in an airtight container and reserve for another use. Season the sauce with salt and transfer to a squeeze bottle or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Makes about 1 cup of cream.