How to make vegetable quesadillas

Mexican street food is among the best in the world, and well worth trying at home. Here quesadillas are crammed with veg, smothered in cheese and warmed by cumin and smoked paprika

Vegetable quesadillas

Serves 4

1 small to medium sized butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-2cm dice
1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into 1-2cm dice
Kernels from 1 sweetcorn cob
1 red onion, peeled and finely diced
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp paprika
Good pinch of smoked paprika
1-2 red chillies (depending on heat and your preference for it), deseeded and finely chopped
light olive oil for roasting, frying and brushing
4 large flour tortillas
150g cheddar, grated
Large handful coriander leaves
salt and pepper

Heat the oven to 190C/Gas 5. Toss the squash, pepper, corn, onion, spices, chilli and 2 tbsp olive oil in a large baking dish. Season with salt and pepper.

Roast the veg in the oven for 35-40 minutes, until tender, tossing once halfway through so it cooks evenly. Remove from the oven and turn the temperature down low, to approximately 130C/Gas 1.

Brush each tortilla on one side with a little oil and put one into a large nonstick frying pan, oil side down. Sprinkle some cheese over one half, then the veg mixture, then a few coriander leaves. Fold the other half of the tortilla over to make a semicircle, gently pressing down with your hands to flatten it slightly.

Cook for a couple of minutes, until the underside of the tortilla is crisp and golden brown (keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn). Carefully turn it over and cook the other side until crisp and golden. Keep warm in the oven while you cook the remainder. Cut each one in half to serve.

Variation: add some crumbled and fried cooking chorizo or some leftover, shredded roast chicken for a non-vegetarian version.

Recipe from Riverford.co.uk