Veg*n Cooking and Other Random Musings: Roasted Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Roasted Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas

This meal was simple and really tasty. However, my preferred method for cooking potatoes is to roast them. Let's just say, the fact that it's summer, and that we are partaking in Crunchy Chicken's Keep Yer Cool Challenge, that it got a little warm in the apartment. Luckily, Brett is the master of "air flow", and was able to use fans to suck that hot air right out of the apartment. I love you Brett, you rock! If it wasn't for you, well, I would have probably lost my appetite due to the heat. :-)















Roasted Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas
5-6 small Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed and cubed
chili powder
cumin
Mexican oregano
paprika
ground coriander
black pepper
salt

1 cup black beans, cooked
2 purple Hungarian peppers, seeded and minced (serrano or jalapeno would work as well)
1 red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and minced
1/4 yellow onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 yellow squash, diced
chili powder
ground coriander
cumin
salt

tortillas

Preheat oven to 425.

Season cubed potatoes with the above listed seasonings. Cover with foil and bake 35-40 minutes, until potatoes tender, stirring a couple of times through cooking.

Meanwhile, heat a few tablespoons of water in a small skillet. Add the peppers and onion and cook for 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Drain any excess liquid.

Combine all the filling ingredients except the potatoes in a bowl and season to taste.

Layer roasted potatoes and veggie mixture in a warmed tortilla. Fry if desired.

Really tasty, really easy, and also healthy. What can beat that?

I hope to get the next post in the Sustainable Local Diet Series up before my Garden Update on Sunday. There are only two pieces left, the next will be on how to save money eating a local and sustainable diet, and the final piece will be a brief introduction to small space gardening.

'Til next time!

17 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Simple. Tasty. Perfect. Period.

Anonymous said...

I really commend you on participating in the keep yer cool challenge. That must get pretty difficult - and hot. I hope the summer doesn't get too sweltering and I'll send cool thoughts your way.

Great looking quesadillas!

Erin said...

Roasted is my favorite way for taters too, in fact it's almost the only way I'll eat them now! Except for the occasional french fry, of course.

Alicia said...

How brave! turning on the oven :-). But the way it looks, I'll say it was worth it!

Anonymous said...

Mmmm I love your roasted vegetables.

Anonymous said...

I have been an unwilling participant in the "Keep Yer Cool" challenge...I have lived in an apartment for the last 2 years with no air conditioning. That's three very long, hot and sweaty summers with no air. I find what you are doing commendable, however, once I move I will be taking full advantage of my new AC. I figure two years without it gives me some sort of reprieve.

Jan Scholl said...

I can already smell these cooking just thinking about them. Going to the store and hopefully I still have intact peppers in the garden-danged dog. thanks for dinner.

Bianca said...

Yum! I can't imagine oven-cooking in the summer without the AC though. I roasted some veggies last night for the VCon Moussaka recipe and it got sooooo hot. But I also had my air on. At least you have Brett to keep things cool!

Brett said...

Jam,

I can't speak to how others use the term "veg*n", but to me, the asterisk can stand in for either "a" or "etaria" such that "veg*n" could be read as 'vegan' or 'vegetarian'. At least that's what I thought it meant.

J said...

Veggie Girl - My sentiments exactly. ;-)

Jenny - Thank you, it hasn't been too difficult so far, we were already used to dealing with it pretty warm, and the fans and such really help out.

We aren't going completely without A/C, we just don't turn it on until the apartment is over 85. And though it was over 85 when I was cooking, I couldn't justify turning it on since the heat was "self imposed".

It doesn't get too bad here, and our apartment complex has a pool. If it gets too hot, that's where we'll head.

Thanks!

Erin - Me too, roasted potatoes are almost the only way to go, though I do like mashed potatoes too.

I can't even think of the last time I had french fries...

Leng - Thanks, they were tasty (and local)!

Ve*gan Chick - Well pat yourself on the back then. It must have been tough, it gets pretty hot in the Midwest sometimes.

Hehehe. Yes, I think it'll be alright if you use AC, just don't go overboard with it. ;-)

Jan - :-) Me too, and now I'm hungry. Hahaha, dog likes to eat your garden, eh? Lucky you aren't battling deer too!

If you make it, I hope you like it!

Bianca - It wasn't too bad. We keep the apartment open and air circulating all night, then close the windows in the morning. It usually helps to keep the place cool. But the oven made it a challenge, and we survived.

Yay for Brett is right!

JAM - What all do you have on hand? Perhaps I might be able to be of assistance in helping you figure out what to do with the veggies.

See Brett's (Wet Blanket's) comment below. From what I understand (this is at least how I use the term), veg*n denotes either a vegan or a vegetarian. I chose veg*n because I eat a mostly vegan diet, but will eat locally, sustainably produced honey, and have not ruled out the idea of eating eggs from chickens I may possibly raise myself someday. Seemed a safer bet to straddle the fence on this one and I also know some vegans get a little weird about people using the term "incorrectly".

Brett (Wet Blanket) - Thanks for responding. And THANKS for keeping the air circulated around our apartment (and letting me out the stupid back door all the time!).

Anonymous said...

Those look and sound amazing! However, with no AC, they will most likely have to wait til fall :o) I miss cooking and baking!!

Anonymous said...

Oh these look so yum! Me want some pronto!

Theresa said...

Hmm. This looks like something I could try in my solar cooker - it sure does look tasty!

Unknown said...

so... thats looks really good. seriously, you can move in. and cook for me. :)

is it fate that i have most of those ingredients sitting in my kitchen? yes, yes it is.

Little Miss Sunshine said...

Oh man ... I LOVE roasted potatoes!! So delicious - somehow, my not-so-bright mind (the culinary side of my brain) didn't even think of incorporating that into my wrap! SO .... THANK YOU SO MUCH for this recipe ... oh boy .... the thought of roasted potato (and beans) .... mmmmmm

J said...

Courtney - Thank you, and I probably should have waited too, it got really hot, BUT we got potatoes in our CSA. I'm thinking about getting a George Foreman grill that I could plug in and take out on my porch. I miss baking too. :-(

Shellyfish - Thanks! :-)

Jam - Oh my goodness your meal sounds perfect. I would have happily taken your daughters portion :-).

That is a great idea, going ahead and roasting up the veggies when it is still cool outside. You'll already have the fixings for your meals tomorrow.

Oh my goodness, that is a lot of lettuce. Have a green salad with every meal! Oooh, and taco salad is another great way to use up a lot of lettuce.

Theresa - I bet on the right day you could. I really want to make my own solar oven, but I'm concerned about the duration of sunlight we receive in Missouri. Not sure what all would be possible.

Selina - Hahaha! You know, we do have an extra bedroom at our apartment if Missouri ever interests you. ;-)

It must be, just make sure you have plenty of fans on you, otherwise, you'll lose your appetite cooking. Man I wish I had a grill.

Cecilia - Me too. I didn't think about using them more until late this past winter, I was on a sweet potato kick, I forget about plain old spuds.

No problem, check out the recipe index for more ideas, I have tons of seasoning combination's for roasted potatoes. And they pair perfectly with beans or green lentils.

Avery Yale Kamila said...

Those look super yummy! I wanted to roast potatoes the other day but decided against it because of the heat factor. You're so lucky to have a master of air flow living with you!