Southwestern Potato Quesadilla

Name: Southwestern Potato Quesadilla
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H17M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H8M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Yield: 4 quesadillas
Ingredients: 1 cup leftover Southwest Mash , recipe follows; Eight 5 1/2-inch corn tortillas; 1 small bunch fresh cilantro, plucked (just the leaves and soft stems); 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese (about 2 ounces); 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack (about 2 ounces); 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; Crema and salsa verde, for serving, optional; 2 pounds large Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed; Kosher salt; 2 medium poblano peppers; 1 medium white onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick; 1 1/2 cups crema or sour cream, at room temperature; Freshly ground black pepper

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These quesadillas are crispy, creamy and just a little spicy. Even if you don't have the Southwest Mash you could make them with 1 cup of plain mash mixed with a couple tablespoons of your favorite canned or jarred green chiles.

Total: 25 min

Prep: 17 min
Cook: 8 min

Yield: 4 quesadillas

Total: 25 min

Prep: 17 min
Cook: 8 min

Yield: 4 quesadillas

Ingredients

1 cup leftover Southwest Mash , recipe follows

Eight 5 1/2-inch corn tortillas

1 small bunch fresh cilantro, plucked (just the leaves and soft stems)

1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese (about 2 ounces)

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack (about 2 ounces)

1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Crema and salsa verde, for serving, optional

Southwest Mashed Potatoes:

2 pounds large Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed

Kosher salt

2 medium poblano peppers

1 medium white onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 1/2 cups crema or sour cream, at room temperature

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat a cast-iron grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
Spread 1/4 cup mashed potatoes on to 4 tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border. Top with a few sprigs of cilantro. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Cotija and then 2 tablespoons Monterey Jack over the potatoes. Top with the remaining 4 tortillas and brush lightly with some oil.
In two batches, place the quesadillas, oiled-side down, on the grill pan and cook until crisp with grill marks and heated through, about 2 minutes. Brush the tops with a little more oil before flipping and cook an additional 2 minutes. Cut the quesadillas into wedges and top with cilantro leaves. Serve hot with crema and salsa verde if desired.

Southwest Mashed Potatoes:

Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water by about 1 inch and add 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil, uncovered, over high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer briskly until fork tender, about 45 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pan. Coarsely mash with a traditional potato masher.
While the potatoes are cooking, char the poblanos on all sides under a broiler, 5 to 7 minutes. Place in a bowl and cover with a plate or plastic wrap to cool. Once cool, peel, seed and slice the peppers into thin 2-inch-long strips. Set aside.
Meanwhile, preheat a grill pan over high heat. Lay the onion slices on the pan and grill, turning until cooked through but still firm with distinct grill marks on each side, about 8 minutes total. Let cool and coarsely chop.
Mash the crema into the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in the peppers and onions to make a chunky mashed potato. Serve hot.