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quesadilla frita on a white plate with a side of salad. Tortilla is topped with sour cream, pickled jalapenos and cilantro

Quesadillas Fritas

Cindy
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 58 minutes
Course Side Dish Recipes
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 Quesadillas
Calories 174 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups masa harina flour
  • 1 1/3 cups warm water
  • 1/3 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheese I used a mixture of mozzarella, Monterey Jack and cheddar
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Mix the masa harina, water and salt in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon until it comes together into a smooth dough.
    masa harina tortilla dough being mixed in a bowl with a wooden spoon.
  • Then shape the dough into a ball with your hands.
    a ball of fresh tortilla dough in a glass bowl
  • Split and shape the dough into 12 equal-sized balls.
    balls of tortilla dough on a wooden cutting board.
  • Place a dough ball between two sheets of baking parchment and squash it down into a flattened circle using a plate, large bowl or saucepan.
    a round white plate on top of parchment paper.
  • If the circle is not quite flat enough, finish using a rolling pin. Repeat with the remaining dough balls. Each quesadilla should be approx. 6-7” in diameter. 
    a wooden rolling pin making tortillas between parchment paper sheets.
  • Sprinkle shredded cheese over one half of each quesadilla, leaving a gap around the edge of approx. half an
    cheese on a tortilla that is on a piece of parchment paper.
  • Then fold over the dough and squash down the edges using your fingers or a fork to seal them together. 
    a folded fresh tortilla with the edges crimped with a fork.
  • Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large high sided frying pan on a medium-high setting. Once hot, fry the quesadillas in batches until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes on each side.
    quesadillas frying in a pan with oil.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings and dips such as fresh chopped cilantro, jalapenos, hot sauce, sour cream and avocado salsa.
    tortillas fritas on a plate, next to small bowls of toppings.

Notes

  • Try other fillings! Anything you'd put in a taco or quesadilla will be delicious in this recipe. Mix the cheese with cooked taco meat, sauteed peppers and onions, or your favorite salsa.
  • Be sure to use the right type of corn flour. Masa Harina is not the same thing as corn meal, but it should be easy to find in the specialty baking section or Mexican section of your grocery store.
  • It's really simple to make tortillas using common tools like a large plate and a rolling pin too. If you have a tortilla press, go ahead and use it!
  • This recipe makes quesadillas fritas that are about 6 inches across. This way it's easy to fit a few of them in the frying pan at one time. You can adjust the size of these if you want to.
  • Quesadillas Fritas are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. I suggest reheating them in an air fryer or toaster oven to get them nice and crispy again.
    • Keyword quesadillas fritas