Sincronizadas con Jamón y Queso (Ham and Cheese Quesadillas)
Two flour tortillas toasted with ham and stretchy cheese, served with pickled jalapeños to cut through the richness.
Made with Escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots) and Flour tortillas. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.40 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
Lay four of your ready made flour tortillas (see the base recipe) on a board. Cover each with a quarter of the cheese, leaving a 1 cm border.
- 2
Add two slices of ham to each, folded to fit, then a few slices of tomato. Top with the rest of the cheese.
- 3
Place a second tortilla on each, pressing down gently to make four sandwiches.
- 4
Heat a little of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Cook one sincronizada at a time for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, pressing with a spatula, until golden and the cheese has melted.
5 min - 5
Cut each into wedges.
- 6
Serve straight away with sliced avocado, soured cream and a bowl of your ready made escabeche (see the base recipe) for spooning over.
Tips
- Use a low-moisture melting cheese. Fresh wet mozzarella makes the tortillas soggy.
- Keep the heat at medium so the cheese melts before the tortillas darken.
- Dab the tomato slices dry on kitchen paper before adding them.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten hot. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 2 days and can be reheated in a dry pan until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is the difference between a sincronizada and a quesadilla?
A sincronizada is two flour tortillas sandwiched round ham and cheese and toasted. A quesadilla is usually a single folded tortilla with cheese, and often no ham.
Can I add something else inside?
Yes. Cooked chorizo, sliced pickled jalapeño, refried beans or leftover shredded chicken all work well. Keep the filling thin so the tortillas close.
More made with escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots)
Tortas de Frijol y Aguacate (Bean and Avocado Rolls)
DFEFNFNachos de Queso con Frijoles y Escabeche (Cheese Nachos)
GFEFNFTacos de Papa con Chorizo y Escabeche (Potato and Chorizo Tacos)
EFNFTorta de Milanesa de Pollo (Breaded Chicken Sandwich)
NFSee every dish made with escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots)
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.