Thursday, August 4

Chorizo & Caramelized Onion Quesadillas

A decadent quesadilla filled with Spanish chorizo, caramelized onions, and lots of cheese


Chorizo and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas


My brother and I have very similar food palates, so it's always fun to catch up with him and hear about his favorite restaurants and dishes. Being a native Californian, I'm no stranger to good Mexican food, but he always seems to know the best, most authentic places. He doesn't cook much (which didn't stop him from critiquing my cooking when we were growing up), but he has a few solid recipes, like these chorizo and onion quesadillas. The spicy sausage, sweet onions, gooey cheese, and crispy tortillas are a rich and heavenly combination and will always remind me of him.

Note: This recipe calls for dry-cured Spanish chorizo instead of fresh Mexican chorizo. I like the Spanish style here because it makes the quesadilla less greasy, but you can cook crumbled fresh chorizo and substitute it if you like.


More Chorizo Recipes:
- Chorizo Huevos Rancheros
- Spicy Chorizo Mussels
- Chorizo, Egg, & Potato Breakfast Burritos


Chorizo & Caramelized Onion Quesadillas:
Ingredients
- 8 flour tortillas
- 1 1/2 c. grated Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 lb. chorizo sarta, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- butter, for melting

Recipe
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat and add in the chorizo and onion.
  • Cook until chorizo is crispy and renders its fat and onions soften and brown, about 10 -15 minutes.
  • In another large skillet, melt a small pat of butter over medium heat.
  • To assemble quesadillas, add a flour tortilla in the buttered pan and top with a handful of grated cheese, a quarter of the chorizo and onion mixture, a little more cheese, and another tortilla.
  • Cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the tortillas are crispy and the cheese melts.
  • To serve, cut into wedges and serve with guacamole,* salsa, and sour cream.

Serves three
*Try this recipe for killer guacamole. 

Wednesday, August 3

Weekend Review: Portland Breweries

Beer Tasters at Bridgeport Ale

While admittedly not a beer person (although quite a beer bong champ in my college days), I had to take advantage of all the local breweries during my recent vacation to Portland. And really, it was refreshing to wash down some of the great food we had with a cold, crisp beer. My boyfriend's favorite is Rogue Brewery for its award-winning Hazelnut Brown Nectar, while I prefer the lively atmosphere at Deschutes. And because this weekend was all about indulging, we hit up the Oregon Brewfest, which featured over 80 beers from breweries around the country. Luckily we can still enjoy many of these drinks back at home, since most of these beers can be found at specialty liquor stores or Whole Foods.

Mirror Pond Pale Ale at Deschutes Brewery's Happy Hour

Tuesday, August 2

Weekend Review: Portland

Muu Paa Kham Waan - Grilled Boar Collar with Chili, Lime, Garlic Sauce at Pok Pok
Gnocchi Parisienne, Peas, Portabello, Pistou at Little Bird Bistro
Eggs Benedict at Mother's

My boyfriend and I just got back from a highly-anticipated trip to Portland, Oregon, to attend our friends' fabulous wedding. I first visited Portland a few years ago and have been dying to get back to the city, which reminds me a great deal of one of my other favorite places, Boulder, Colorado. They have an amazing food scene that has been getting a ton of press in recent years, and it was impossible to decide where we should spend our few precious meals. I was more than happy with our final choices (even after enduring a 90 minute wait for Pok Pok), but I could probably spend years in that city and still discover new, great gems.

Mussels, Rouille, & Anchovy Toast at Little Bird Bistro
Mac N Cheese with Cheddar & Kettle Chip Crust at Bridgeport Ale
Kung Op Wun Sen - Prawns Baked in a Clay Pot with Pork Belly & Noodles at Pok Pok
Stuffed Frittata with Potatoes, Bacon, & Cheddar at Mother's