Spinach Quesadillas

Quick and easy to prepare, and packed with flavor. This is a great weeknight supper. It only took me 20 minutes to put the filling together and grate the cheese, plus another 10 minutes to make the Salsa Cruda with avocado. I highly recommend this for a weeknight supper.

It's probably best to start with the salsa cruda, although I did it at the end. This salsa cruda is just like pico de gallo, but with chunks of avocado added. Chop up 4 roma tomatoes, 1 small white onion (or whatever you've got), 1 jalapeno chile, and a handful of cilantro. Add the juice of one lime and a little salt. Stir in 1 cut-up avocado.

Start with one head of spinach, washed and with stems removed, roughly chopped. Dice a small onion and a green jalapeno chile. Saute the onion and jalapeno with a large pinch of Mexican oregano over medium heat. When the onion is translucent, add the spinach and saute a few more minutes. While that is cooking, chop 1/2 cup of cilantro. Add to the saute mixture and taste for salt.

Turn off the heat. Grate 1/3 cup of cheese. I used muenster and it turned out to be more like 1/2 - 2/3 cup for my 2 quesadillas. Using 2 skillets, heat one whole wheat tortilla in each one, and turn it over to warm the other side. Scatter cheese on the hot tortilla surface, then cover with the spinach mixture. Cover with another tortilla, then flip them over when they've gotten a little crisp. Slide the finished quesadilla onto a cutting board, cut into triangles, and serve with salsa cruda and sour cream.

If I'd thought of it, I would have served the rest of my green rice, which was in the freezer. I'll have to do that next time.

Things I'd do differently next time: Start with the salsa cruda and consider adding a side dish.

Approximate cost to prepare:
2 small onions - $.50
4 roma tomatoes - $1.75
2 jalapeno chiles - $.35
1 avocado - $.80
1 lime - $.25
1 head spinach - $1.30
cilantro - $.50
4 whole wheat tortillas -$1.70
1/2 cup cheese - $2.00
1/4 cup sour cream - $.40
olive oil and salt - negligible
TOTAL - $9.55 for 2 people

We ate almost all the quesadillas in one sitting, but it did provide lunch for me the next day, and we had leftover salsa cruda.