Recipe: Potato and Cheese Quesadilla with Corn Salsa

POTATO AND CHEESE QUESADILLA WITH CORN SALSA

"This quesadilla is modeled after one I recently ate under a sunny sky in Santa Monica, California, not far from the beach. It is filled with a satisfying combination of cheese and browned potatoes, and topped with a simple corn salsa. The whole wheat tortilla, though not authentic, compliments the filling folded inside. (Quesadillas made with one tortilla are more typically Mexican than those in which two are used to sandwich the filling.)

The crisp salsa, which adds a healthful serving of vegetables, can also be used as a quick accompaniment to serve with grilled fish and poultry, or even used as a filling for an omelet."

2 cups fresh corn kernels or canned corn
1/2 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 medium red onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
freshly ground pepper
1 medium baking potato, about 8 oz., peeled and cut in 1/4-inch cubes
1/2 cup fat-free chicken or vegetable broth
2 burrito-size whole wheat tortillas
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded lowfat Monterey Jack or Havarti cheese

To make the salsa, combine the corn, red pepper, onion, cilantro and salt in a bowl. Mix in the lime juice and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heavily spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Over medium-high heat, add the potato, stirring to coat it with the spray. Cook until potato is well browned in spots, about 2 minutes, stirring several times. Pour in the broth. Cook, stirring often, until potatoes are almost soft and almost all the liquid has been absorbed, about 8 minutes. Season to taste with pepper.

Spray another large skillet lightly with cooking spray. Set it over medium-high heat. When the pan is very hot, add a tortilla. Heat the tortilla until the bottom feels dry and crisp, about 1 minute. Place it, crisp side down, on a baking sheet. Repeat with the second tortilla.

Cover half of each tortilla with half the cooked potato. Sprinkle cheese over the potatoes, covering them. Fold each tortilla in half to cover the filling.

Bake until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

To serve, cut each quesadilla in half. Place 1 half on each of 4 plates. Top with a quarter of the salsa and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings, each containing 237 calories and 6 grams of fat
Source: Dana Jacobi for the American Institute