Quesadilla: My Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

Quesadilla Recipe

 

[caption id="attachment_1575" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla - Click To Enlarge"][/caption]

I had been wanting to make this Quesdilla for some time now as it is easy and delicious! I love the Quesadilla  as a main dish or appetizer but no matter how I make it the Quesadilla is one of  my favorite comfort foods. I mean who doesn't love gooey, cheesy, melty comfort foods? Nobody that's who!

Years ago I was a bartender here in Las Vegas and I worked with a cook named Wes on my graveyard shifts. Wes was a pretty creative guy in the kitchen and sometimes he would come up with some really excellent recipes. Some would be a bit on the complex side and we would not get the OK from the owner of the bar to add it to the menu and then sometimes Wes would come up with a simple little something that was a big hit. This was the case with his Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla!

He made a Quesadilla for the boss one day and the boss loved it so much that he let us have the Quesdilla recipe on the menu. I worked graveyard shift four nights a week and we sold the hell out of those Quesadilla's! Now you would think that we just made bar food and the truth be known we did! Chicken wings and fingers, burgers and dogs. We had a small breakfast menu as well. But! When you have two guys who love to cook then watch out!

Anyway this weeks video is for my version of  the Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla recipe that Wes used to make. I am adding Southeast Asian flavors because I just love the flavors of Southeast Asia and most notably the flavors of Thailand and Viet Nam! I am also adding my very own Asian Pesto Sauce that I personally guarantee will go good on anything you put it on be it beef, chicken, fish, noodles, rice! Anything will be greatly enhanced with flavors with this sauce!  So without further adieu let's get into my Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe!


Ingredients for Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla:
A stove top cast iron griller,  or a really large cast iron pan, or pizza stone.
A package of large flour tortillas. If you are gluten free then you can find gluten free flour tortillas.
One tortilla for the Quesadilla and half of another tortilla for the second layer of this Quesadilla recipe.
As much Sambal Olek (garlic chili sauce) you would like to spread on the tortilla. I used about 5 Tbsp.
A package of any kind of cheese you like. I used Colby Jack but you can use any kind really.
A package of cooked shrimp any size you like will do. You will use 10-20 of these cut in half lengthwise.
1/2 Cup Thai Basil either sweet basil, holy basil, hoary basil any variety will work just fine.
1/4 to 1/2 Finely sliced onion. Sliced as thinly as possible.
1/2 to 1 Tbsp finely chopped lemongrass. Chopped as finely as possible.

Ingredients for Asian Pesto Sauce:
1 Cup of olive oil.
2 to 4 (depends on how hot you like) Thai Bird Chilies finely chopped seeds and all.
4 cloves garlic.
1 Tbsp finely minced ginger.
1/2 Tbsp sugar. (brown or white)
2 to 3 Tbsp of sesame tahini.
1/2 Cup Thai basil. Any kind will do.
1/2 Cup of mint.
1/2 Cup cilantro.(optional)
2 to 3 Tbsp of scallion white bulbs sliced fine.
Zest of one lime.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Makes about 1 1/2 cups of Pesto Sauce. If you want more then multiply this base recipe by any number you want!


Method for making Asian Pesto Sauce:
Make the Asian Pesto Sauce first so that the flavors of the sauce get to marry before being put on the Quesadilla!

1. Pour olive oil into a food processor or blender. I am using a Cuisinart Elite processor and I love it!
2. Now add your chilies, garlic, ginger, sugar, Tahini, sliced scallions, lime zest and blend it up in your processor or blender until it's smooth. This is your emulsion.

3. Now add your basil, mint and optional cilantro and your salt and pepper to taste and blend it together with your emulsion. This is your Asian Pesto Sauce. I make this about an hour or more in advance of making my Quesadilla to allow the flavors to marry and blend together. Put Asian Pesto in a non-metallic bowl and put aside.

Method for Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe:
1. Lay out your tortilla on a cutting board or pizza peel. I used a pizza peel.
2. Spread your chili sauce over the tortilla.
3. Cover one half of the tortilla with your cheese of choice.
4. Now cover the cheese with your shrimp. I cut the shrimp in half lengthwise to allow it to cook faster.
5. Sprinkle some more cheese over the shrimp on your Quesadilla.
6. Half of a second tortilla placed on top of the shrimp and cheese.
7. Sprinkle cheese on top of the second layer.
8. Place about 1/2 to 1 cup of basil leaves on top of the cheese.
9. Now put your finely sliced onions on top of the basil leaves. You want your onions sliced as thinly as possible.
10. Sprinkle with 1/2 to 1 Tbsp of finely chopped lemongrass.
11. Fold the other half of the Quesadilla over the half with the basil and onions and press it down.


Before you grill this Quesadilla make a salad out of any kind of lettuce or salad mix that you have on hand. Use some of the Asian Pesto Sauce as the salad dressing and mix the greens and the pesto by hand and then plate the salad. Now it is time to grill your Quesadilla.

I am using a Lodge cast iron griller for indoors use. You can use whatever you have. If you have a pizza stone that will work well and if you have an Air bake pizza stone that will work to. Place your Quesadilla down on the flat top that you have either coated with some oil or non-stick spray and let it cook for 1 to 3 minutes depending on your stove and grill medium. Then turn the Quesadilla over to the other side and cook as the first side.

When the Quesadilla is done cooking cut it up and plate 2 or more pieces with your salad and drizzle some of your Asian Pesto Sauce on you Quesadilla slices and you are ready to eat! Enjoy!