It was a rather eventful weekend, particularly if you are a 7-year old boy (let’s call him T) with leprechauns on the brain. In my last post, I mentioned that while my husband and I were busy snacking on these Asian quesadillas with hoisin sauce, chicken and zucchini, T was busy fashioning a leprechaun trap out of a cardboard box, complete with a door propped open with a toothpick.
According to T, leprechauns are not very good rule-followers. In fact, they go out of their way to break the rules (as evidenced by our leprechaun visitor…more on that later). So, T used a little reverse psychology to fool any Irish green-clad little men that might happen upon his trap. Things such as “Do not enter” and “No gold here” were etched with Crayola marker around the perimeter of the box.
Of course, if you really want to attract a creature who is obsessed with rainbows and pots of gold, cold hard cash should be involved. T carefully laid a trail of pennies, starting from the top of the stairs, across the landing and into his room, right up to the door of the trap. Each day when he came home from school, T checked his trap, clearly disappointed when everything remained intact. As a show of brotherly support, my older son (M) made his own version of a leprechaun trap and tucked it away in the family room.
By Saturday evening, things reached a fever pitch of anxiety. St. Patrick’s Day was almost over and, still, no sign of Irishmen of any kind. T went upstairs to take a bath while M and my husband took our dog for a walk. I went upstairs to keep T company and I swear on the Blarney Stone (okay, I don’t have even a pinch of Irish in me) that I stayed up upstairs the entire time.
When T and I trundled downstairs after his bath, we were met with a shocking sight! Chairs tipped over, shoes scattered all over the living room, T’s stuffed tiger hanging upside-down from the bannister and both traps knocked over. Obviously the work of a cheeky leprechaun bent on wreaking havoc! Apparently we scared it off when we came downstairs because the boys’ piles of pennies were scattered but not stolen and the bottles of Guinness were still in the fridge. Next year we’ll set more traps and, with a little luck, we’ll catch one of those little buggers.
Let’s move on to the recipe. All I will tell you is this: make it. Now, this week, next week…just soon. It must not be missed.
The recipe:
In a medium bowl, toss chicken strips with 5-spice powder, salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray.
Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Wipe the pan clean, coat with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add the zucchini and red bell pepper, and cook until just tender.
Spread 2 teaspoons of hoisin sauce on each tortilla. Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Lay one tortilla (with hoisin sauce) in the skillet, and cover half of the tortilla with a quarter of the chicken, zucchini, bell peppers and 1 tablespoon of mozzarella.
Fold the tortilla over the filling and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Remove from pan and cut into 3 pieces. Repeat with remaining tortillas and fillings. Serve.
Other quesadilla recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Shrimp, Sun-Dried Tomato & Feta Quesadilla
Closet Cooking’s Tandoori Chicken Quesadillas
The Other Side of 50’s Chicken, Spinach & Cannellini Bean Quesadillas
A Couple Cooks’ Greek Quesadillas
Asian Quesadilla with Chicken, Zucchini & Hoisin Sauce
From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized strips
- 3/4 tsp Chinese 5-spice powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small zucchini, cut into half-circles
- 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 4 whole wheat flour torillas
- 8 tsp hoisin sauce
- 1/4 tbsp grated mozzarella cheese
Directions
- In a medium bowl, toss chicken strips with 5-spice powder, salt and pepper.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray.
- Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
- Wipe the pan clean, coat with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add zucchini and red bell pepper, and cook until just tender.
- Spread 2 teaspoons of hoisin sauce on each tortilla.
- Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Lay one tortilla (with hoisin sauce) in the skillet, and cover half of the tortilla with a quarter of the chicken, zucchini, bell peppers and 1 tablespoon of mozzarella.
- Fold the tortilla over the filling and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from pan and cut into 3 pieces.
- Repeat with remaining tortillas and fillings. Serve.
Belinda @zomppa says
Oh, boy, sounds like he got excited about catching one! Love this twist on the quesadilla!
Blog is the New Black says
I adore this idea/recipe!
Priyanka says
Great recipe and stunning pics
Aggie says
You’re right. I must make this. asap. Looks so delicious!
How cute is T with his trap setting! Love this! How fun 🙂
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
Quesadillas are on the menu a lot at our house and I know we will be trying your version soon. YUM!
Loved the story of T & the trap, too cute!
Bev Weidner says
ABSOLUTELY love this. My life craves it!
Deborah says
That is too fun! I would have loved to see his face!! And I would love to be the one snacking on one of these quesadillas – these are right up my alley!
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables says
I’m ALWAYS looking for new and creative quesadillas, these look delish!
Lydia says
Hoisin sauce makes these irresistible! I can’t imagine a leprechaun who wouldn’t love them.
Meg says
Looks amazing! Thank you for another great recipe to use when our zucchini crop explodes 🙂 Fantastic Pics!!!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
I so rarely think to make quesadilla, but it’s such a wonderful way to feature other ingredients (veggies, meat, or seafood). This looks so lovely!
Noble Pig ~ Cathy says
Love, love, love this….what a nice healthy meal! I love hoisin too…could just lick it off my plate. Love the leprechaun stories my boys now 10 & 11 are too big…but every St Pat’s morning I had the furniture flipped, toilet water green and Lucky Charms spread everywhere the good ole’ days.
Ally says
Loving how jam-packed full of flavors these are!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
Heidi says
Those leprechauns are crafty little monsters, they made a mess of Smudge’s room too and then to her delight they also jacked up my last blog post! Seriously! Your quesadillas look delish, the colors are so inviting!
Carolyn says
My family LOVES quesadilla! I wonder if I can sneak some veggies in like this and still have them eat it?
bridget {bake at 350} says
A. that story is so cute!
B. I am totally making these! They sound perfect!
Maria says
Such a great lunch idea!
claudia lamascolo/aka pegasuslegend says
What a great recipe got to try this one I am sure if you and hubby both loved them they got to be awesome!
Jeanette says
Dara – I love the sound of this! I think my kids would enjoy this too.
KalynsKitchen says
Yum, sounds like a very tasty quesadilla variation!
Julia {The Roasted Root} says
I just adore your ideas. Hoisin sauce is wonderful and I would love to make it homemade – let me know if you try this at any point, because I’d gladly follow 😉 Nutritious as always, your quesadilla looks like a perfect meal. 🙂
Traci says
I bookmarked this recipe. It looks fabulous and I can’t wait to try it!!
Cindy @ Once Upon a Loaf says
That was one feisty and wiley leprechaun! Too cute!! These quesadillas look great, and healthy. Trying them this weekend – thanks!
Maureen says
You’ve gotta love a kid with imagination and perseverence 🙂
I want one of these quesadillas!
Chris @ The Keenan cookbook says
Love the leprechaun catching story, too cute!
I’m saving this one to make soon. We love making your Braised Country Style Pork Ribs in Ginger Ale & Hoisin Sauce – I’m 100% certain we will love making this.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
What a beautiful and flavorful meal! 🙂
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
How in the 25 years of my life have I not thought to try spicing up the quesadilla?! I blame living in Texas. Yum!
Megan {Country Cleaver} says
Ooo how zesty and full of color! These looks scrumptious, Dara! Scrumptious!
carolinaheartstrings says
How yummy those look. My husband would love them. Come visit us. We are having a great giveaway. 3 charm bracelets from Cutey. One of them could be yours. They are terrific.
Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook) says
what an awesome quesadilla! definitely bookmarking this!
Javelin Warrior says
So these are the quesadillas I’ve been missing out on my whole life 😉 The colors are amazing and I love the flavors you used in this recipe… I am featuring this post in today’s Friday Food Fetish roundup (with a link-back and attribution), but please let me know if you have any objections. It’s a pleasure following your creations…
Mary says
Your photos are gorgeous!!!!
myfudo says
I love the Asian flavors in this Mexican fave…Gotta try this weekend!
Briana says
This sounds delicious, I can’t wait to get some Hoisin sauce and make it! I think you mean 1/4 cup cheese in your recipe, not 1/4 tbsp though… 🙂
JenE says
Dinner tonight. Yummy – and I love adding a new dimension to my cooking (new spices and flavors) without a bunch of fat and calories. Thanks!
xo
Mama Jen
lint says
What a delicious collection of recipes. Every single one looks bette than the last.