Charred Cauliflower Quesadillas Recipe 55

Steps:

• Char peppers: Over a gas burner turned to high, hold the poblanos over the flame with tongs and char them until they are black and blistered all over. Alternatively, you could do this under a broiler, turning them frequently for even blistering. Transfer hot chiles to a bowl and cover tightly with foil. Set aside to steam and let their skins loosen while you cook the cauliflower. Char cauliflower: In a large bowl, toss cauliflower with 3 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper, until it's evenly coated. Heat your largest heaviest frying pan over high heat until almost smoking, add cauliflower, and let it cook until each piece has a few black spots but is not mushy, turning and moving it frequently to ensure even cooking. This will take 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer florets to cutting board to rest. Mix filling: When poblanos are cool enough to handle, peel the charred skin off with your fingertips or a paring knife. Pull out and discard stems and seed clusters, and slice peppers into 1/4-inch wide strips. Add to cauliflower on board and give both a rough chop together, reducing the cauliflower to no bigger than 1/2-inch chunks. Return cauliflower and peppers to the large bowl, add scallions, lime juice and salt to taste. You should have about 2 cups of cauliflower filling. Assemble and cook quesadillas: Lay out 6 tortillas and spread 1/3 cup cauliflower filling and 1/3 cup shredded cheese to each. Place second 6 tortillas on top as lids. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, coat lightly with olive oil and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook quesadillas until browned underneath, about 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully a flip - a large, thin spatula like my favorite kind helps here - and repeat on the second side. Repeat with remaining quesadillas. To serve: Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve with your choice of fixings. Two of my favorites are below. Cumin-Lime Crema : Combine in food processor, adjust seasonings to taste, and serve alongside quesadillas. Lazy Taco Slaw: Toss cabbage mix, salt and lime together in a large bowl; set aside for 5 minutes. It will shrink down a bit. Stir in scallions, then mayo and hot sauce. Adjust seasonings/ingredients to taste, then stir in cilantro leaves. Serve alongside quesadillas or any of your favorite tortilla-clad meals.

Steps:

• Cut the cauliflower in half and break it into small florets.
• Place the florets in a food processor and pulse until they break down to rice-size pieces. Remove from the processor and set aside.
• Add the mushrooms to the food processor and pulse until broken down to rice-size pieces.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook for about 4 minutes, until fragrant and the onion is translucent.
• Add the cauliflower, mushrooms, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, soy sauce, salt, and pepper and stir. Cook for about 10 minutes, until the cauliflower and mushroom mixture is tender and the water released from the mushrooms has evaporated.
• Heat a tortilla over low heat in a large, greased skillet.
• Sprinkle the tortilla with a layer of cheese, then add a layer of cauliflower "meat", caramelized onions and peppers, and another layer of cheese.
• Top with another tortilla and cook for about 4 minutes, until the bottom layer of cheese has melted and the bottom tortilla is golden brown.
• Carefully flip the quesadilla and cook for another 4 minutes, until all of the cheese has melted.
• Repeat.
• Slice each tortilla into wedges and serve.
• Enjoy!