In terms of quick, weeknight dinners, quesadillas just might be at the top of my list. The possibilities are really endless (Meatless Monday? Add some mushrooms! Leftover steak? Perfect for some fajita quesadillas!) and most quesadillas are ready in under half an hour, which is truly ideal.
I remember going to a Mexican restaurant a couple years ago, and I tried a shrimp quesadilla that opened my eyes to two game-changing ideas. 1. This quesadilla had more than one type of cheese. This one might seem super obvious, but I realized that when I would make a quesadilla at home I would usually just reach for the cheddar or pepper jack, but never tried any others, or even better, a combination! And 2., it had a spicy mayo-like sauce, on top! This one seemed weird to me at first, as I'm usually all for the classic salsa dunk or guac scoop. But by putting it on top, it pretty much guaranteed a little bit in each bite, which is what we're all going for after all.
Take all that, throw in some cajun seasoning, and in 25 minutes or less you'll have these delicious Cajun Shrimp Quesadillas with Spicy Mayo! Might I recommend enjoying them with a few of these Double Citrus Coconut Margaritas? Sounds like a match-made in heaven to me!
You'll start by making your spicy mayo, which is exactly what it sounds like, Sriracha and mayo. So simple, yet beyond satisfying. Once you whip that up, you'll combine the cajun seasoning spices, which should also be super quick to throw together.
Next you'll want to sauté the peppers and onions. One fun thing about sautéing vegetables for quesadillas is that I find that it's actually okay if they brown a little more than usual. It adds a little extra flavor which goes great with the cheese and toasted up tortilla. Once your shrimp are sprinkled and tossed in the cajun seasoning, it's as simple as cooking them up in a skillet. In my opinion, shrimp are one of my favorite things to cook as they kindly tell you when they're done just by the color! No judgement if you happen to pop a shrimp in before putting them in your quesadilla.
Then you're all set to fry your quesadillas up! I used to pretty much only prepare the skillet with a little cooking spray, but I've found that a little olive oil really does the trick to get those tortillas perfectly toasted. Once you have the bottom tortilla down, you'll want to add cheese number 1 of 2, and my new favorite, cotija. I can promise you that even with the peppers/cajun/shrimp flavors going on, this cheese won't get lost. And it brings the salty flavor that's needed. Layer on the pepper mix, shrimp, and cheddar, add the top tortilla, and let that cheese continue to melt.
Once the bottom tortilla is golden, with a spatula (and some confidence) place your hand on the top tortilla, the spatula under the bottom one, and carefully flip the entire thing over. You can also do the fold in half method with one tortilla, but this is actually a little more fun and works out better than you'd think.
Top with spicy mayo, add some additional cotija, and then lots of cilantro and avocado! Add a squeeze of lime, and enjoy each flavor-filled bite.
Super speedy, full of flavor with the addition of peppers and double-cheese, and complete with spicy mayo and the essential toppings for shrimp quesadillas.
Servings: 2
1. Combine mayo and Sriracha in a small bowl, stirring until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge.
1. Combine spices in a small bowl and set aside.
1. In a medium sized skillet, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat. Add bell pepper and onion and sauté until softened, 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper and remove from heat.
2. Place shrimp in a medium sized bowl and sprinkle with cajun seasoning, tossing to combine.
3. In a medium sized skillet, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shrimp, cooking until pink on each side. Remove from heat.
4. Heat remaining teaspoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tortilla, and top with cotija, followed by peppers and onion, shrimp, and cheddar. Add top tortilla, and once bottom tortilla is lightly browned, carefully flip quesadilla. Continue cooking until cheese is melted and other tortilla is golden.
5. Top with spicy mayo, additional cotija, cilantro, avocado, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Enjoy immediately.
You can also add one tortilla at a time, adding in half of filling, and folding in half prior to flipping, instead of adding top tortilla.
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