Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Caramelized Onion and Smoked Gouda Quesadillas


Hi y'all ~ it's Wednesday and that means it's recipe day again.
This week I am sharing one of our favorite recipes ~ 

Caramelized Onion and Smoked Gouda Quesadillas

I also like to add some grilled chicken too, but that's up to you.
I think quesadillas are fun because you can either build a full
meal around them or serve in small wedges as appetizers.
Here is a list of what you will need:

2 Flour Tortillas
1/2 Sweet Onion either Texas Sweet or Vidalia
1 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
Grated Smoked Gouda Cheese
Olive Oil 
Garlic Powder
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper
Some Sugar




Slice up your onion, fairly thin.


Add a bit of oil to a skillet.  Not too much, you just want to coat the pan.
Get the oil hot and add your sliced onions.  Add a bit of Kosher salt to make
the onions sweat a bit and add about a teaspoon of sugar.  The sugar is what
will help to develop the golden color and give the onions a real depth of
flavor.  Don't rush it ~ give it a good 15 minutes over medium heat.
You don't have to stir too often at first, but once they start browning you
will want to keep your eye on the color.  They should look like this.
When finished, just put aside.


You can either grill your chicken breast inside, or out on the grill outside.
Today I used my cast iron grill pan.  Here's what I do ~ while I am getting
 my grill pan nice and hot, I brush both sides of the chicken with EVOO
and then sprinkle with Kosher salt and some freshly ground pepper.  I cook
each side of the breast for 5 to 10 minutes depending on thickness.  You
want the chicken to be fully cooked but not so much that it dries out.
Your chicken should be tender and moist and that will happen easily
if you give it a good char on each side.  



This is a good time to grate your cheese while the chicken is cooking.
I like smoked gouda because it is unexpected.  Typically a Monterey Jack
is used in quesadillas, but I like to shake things up a bit.  I like to grate
the cheese because it is easier to sprinkle over both the top and bottom
layers of the filling.  It's the glue that holds the sandwich together.




Let's start building!  Add a layer of grated gouda to first tortilla and
cover with your sliced, grilled chicken breast.



Add your beautiful caramelized onions over the chicken and follow 
with a bit more cheese.  Cover with the other tortilla and you are
ready to toast it.



Place your quesadilla on a flat griddle or large fry pan.  I use a non stick
so no fat is necessary.  I put a cast iron press on mine, but you can easily
use a heavy fry pan if you don't have a press.  You just want to melt the
cheese and toast the tortilla a bit.  Flip and repeat.



Serve up some fresh guacamole and or sour cream and salsa too.  
The condiments are up to you.

One more thing ~ please don't buy prepared guacamole.  It's so easy to
do yourself and takes seconds to make.  Just scoop out a ripe avocado
into a small mixing bowl.  Add a couple of squeezes of fresh lime juice,
some garlic powder and Kosher salt to taste.  Easy, fresh and natural.

So that's this week's recipe.  Hope you will try it and I hope if you
try it you enjoy it as much as we do.  That's all from the kitchen
of Susan and Bentley.  Back next Wednesday with another recipe.

Oh, and by the way.  I think I will start adding a Fashion Friday
to our weekly posting rotation.  I do love clothes and shoes and
accessories!  Maybe Bentley will show off some fashion tips
for dogs too :-)

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley



6 comments:

  1. Will leave the fixings to you, but sure enjoy a big helping.

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  2. Anything with caramelized onions will be tasty. Will try these soon. '-)

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  3. Yummy! You are speaking our food language now. :) Those onions look wonderful and I completely agree with you about guacamole....which is a food group.

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  4. Love, love, love avocados! I use them all the time. One of my favorite sandwiches is an A-L-T, avocado, lettuce and tomato. Really yummy on grilled sourdough. Your quesadillas look really tasty. I make them a lot, but yours with grilled onions I definitely will have to try.

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  5. Susan, that looks SOOO good! Yum. I could eat that all day---that chicken makes my mouth water just looking at it. I just found a bag in the back of my car that didn't get carried into the house with the groceries the other day. Three GOOD avocados that are spoiled now. Darn it! xoDiana

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  6. Oh we love gouda and quesadillas. My family would love this for sure.

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