Black Bean Quesedillas

I’ve been to a brilliant Mexican brunch today – we had Huevos Rancheros cooked pretty much to order – for 20 of us. We also had Quesedillas and it got me thinking that this might really be the boy’s thing. He loves sandwiches after all, and my cooking has been on a Mexican kick the past few days.

Black Bean Paste
230g cooked black beans (I’m using tinned)

1 tsp ground coriander

½ tsp each ground cumin and cayenne

1 bunch coriander, chopped (including stalks)

Juice of a lime

Salsa

½ red onion thinly sliced

½ tbsp. white wine vinegar

3 spring onions, thinly sliced

3 tomatoes, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushes

1 small bunch coriander, chopped

2 ripe avocadoes

Tortillas

8 small tortillas (wheat or corn)

180ml sour cream

120g grated cheese (I’m using cheddar)

6 tbsp sliced jalapenos from a jar, drained

I’m listening to Pick of the Week on Radio 4. I’m quietly confident that he’ll like this. Rinse and drain the beans and pulse, along wit the other BB paste ingredients into something rough in a food processor.

Make the salsa- soak the onion in the vinegar for a few minutes and then add all the other ingredients. Give it a good stir.

Open a couple of bottles of Corona beer with lime wedges in the neck, for you and the boy. It is refreshing and yes it’s a pain to get the lime out again before you can put the bottles in the Recycling box. Try flattening the wedges with a knife. It takes practice.

Get a griddle pan extremely hot. Take one of the tortillas and spread 2 tbsp of the bean paste on. Leave a wide margin from the edges. Spread a tablespoon of sour cream on top and then scatter on some cheese, a tablespoon of salsa and some chopped jalapenos. Fold it over and carefully transfer to the hot pan. Cook for 2-3 mins each side. The cheese should melt, sticking it all together, the filling should be warm and you should have those nice char-grill lines on the tortillas. Repeat until you run out.

I was right – he does like these a lot. He loves cheese on toast, and he loves food he can pick up with his hands- his elegant, artist’s hands - so it makes sense. It’s been a busy weekend and I haven’t spent much time with him so I feel like I’m making up some ground.  He’s happy and he’s so beautiful when he’s laughing.