Shrimp Quesadilla

Quesadillas have to be my favorite go-to food for lunch. They’re just so easy to make! Especially when you have tortillas and cheese in the fridge, which we almost always do.

One way to take a quesadilla from snack to a meal is to add some protein, like chicken, beef, or in this case shrimp.

First marinate raw shrimp in a little lime juice and chili pepper. Then sauté the shrimp and add it to your jack-cheese quesadilla along with red onion and cilantro. Serve with some sliced avocado, sour cream, maybe another squeeze of lime juice, and you’re set!

If you’re really in a hurry you can use already cooked shrimp. Just toss it with some salt, chili pepper, and lime juice while you grate the cheese and heat the tortillas.

Recipe and photos updated, first published 2008

Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

If you are starting with frozen raw shrimp, put them in a bowl of ice water to defrost.

If you are starting with cooked shrimp, just toss them with some salt, pepper, chipotle chile powder and lime juice and let them sit while you heat the tortillas.

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound of medium-small raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder or chili powder
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of pepper
• 1 Tbsp of lime or lemon juice
• 2 1/2 teaspoons olive oil (divided, 2 teaspoons and 1/2 teaspoon)
• 1 Tbsp chopped red onion
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
• Salt and pepper
• 2 medium-sized flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 avocado, sliced
• Dollop of sour cream or crema fresca

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