Big Quesadillas with Black Beans, Broccoli, and Portabellas

These generous quesadillas make a filling one-dish meal that’s easily completed with a salad on the side. Adapted from Vegan Express. Photo courtesy of Eat Air-A Vegan Food Log.

4 big servings or 8 smaller ones

• 2 1/2 cups small broccoli florets
  (use fresh, frozen, or precut)
• 6 ounces sliced portabella mushrooms
• Two 15- to 16-ounce cans black beans (or 3 cups cooked), drained and rinsed
• 1 cup salsa (any favorite kind—use something interesting like chipotle)
• Four 12-inch flour tortillas or wraps
• Instant Roasted Red Pepper Sauce (recipe follows),
  about 1 cup, or as desired, or extra salsa for topping
• Thinly sliced scallion, optional

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Steam the portabella slices in a skillet with a small amount of water, covered, until they soften. Add the broccoli and continue to steam, covered, until it is bright green and tender-crisp. Remove from the heat and drain.

Combine the beans and salsa in a mixing bowl.

Lay a tortilla on a baking sheet. Spread one half of it with 1/4 of the black bean mixture, followed by 1/4 of the broccoli and mushroom mixture. Fold over to cover. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, using an additional baking sheet if needed.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until the tortillas begins to turn golden and crisp. Watch carefully!

To serve, place each quesadilla or half of a quesadilla on individual plates. Top with some of the sauce, then sprinkle with some sliced scallion if desired.

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Instant Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Aside from using this with this quesadilla recipe and others like it, you can also pour this offbeat sauce over potatoes, sweet potatoes, and grains.

Makes: About 1 1/2 cups

• 3/4 cup firm silken tofu (about half of a 12.3-ounce package)
• 6 ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained
• Handful of cilantro or parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or the container of an immersion blender. Process until smooth, then transfer to a spouted container.

• Find more of VegKitchen’s Vegan Dinner Recipes and more Burritos, Enchiladas, And Tortilla Dishes.
• Here are more easy bean main dishes.
• For lots more Southwestern-style recipes, go to A Southwestern Supper.