Quesadillas de Frijol y Quesillo (Bean and Oaxaca Cheese Quesadillas)
Soft corn tortillas folded around warm mashed beans and stretchy melted cheese, crisped on a hot pan and served with green salsa.
Made with Salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa) and Corn tortillas from masa harina and Frijoles de la olla (pot beans). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.88 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Warm your ready made pot beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan with a splash of their broth, mashing to a thick, spreadable paste. Cool for a few minutes.
- 2
Warm a large frying pan over a medium heat. Warm each corn tortilla (see the base recipe) for 20 seconds a side so it bends without cracking.
- 3
Spread 2 tbsp of beans over half of each tortilla. Add a handful of cheese, a little onion and coriander, then fold over into a half moon.
- 4
Brush the pan lightly with oil. Cook the quesadillas, three or four at a time, for 2 to 3 minutes a side, pressing down gently, until the cheese melts and the tortilla is flecked with gold.
6 min - 5
Keep the cooked ones warm in a low oven while you finish the rest.
- 6
Cut in half and serve hot with your ready made salsa verde (see the base recipe) and lime wedges.
Tips
- Do not overfill. Too much cheese leaks out and burns in the pan.
- Warm the tortillas first. Cold corn tortillas crack when folded.
- Press down gently with a spatula so the cheese melts evenly and glues the tortilla shut.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Leftover quesadillas keep in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat in a hot dry pan until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What cheese is traditional for quesadillas?
Oaxaca cheese, also called quesillo, is the classic, a stringy pulled cheese that melts beautifully. Low moisture mozzarella is the closest widely available substitute in the UK.
Are corn quesadillas gluten free?
Yes, if your tortillas are pure corn and your toppings are gluten free. Fold the tortillas gently so they do not break, and use a non stick pan.
Can I make them with flour tortillas?
Yes, though they would no longer be gluten free. Flour tortillas are easier to fold and give a softer, chewier quesadilla.
More made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Quesadillas de Camarón y Pollo con Salsa Verde (Prawn and Chicken Quesadillas)
GFEFNFChilaquiles Verdes con Pollo Asado (Green Chilaquiles with Grilled Chicken)
GFEFNFChilaquiles Divorciados (Red and Green Chilaquiles with Fried Eggs)
GFNFVQuesadillas de Hongos con Queso (Mushroom and Cheese Quesadillas)
GFEFNFSee every dish made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.