Quesadillas de Papa

Potato quesadillas or quesadillas de papas are crispy on the outside and soft, and melty on the inside. Serve with your favorite toppings and salsa or enjoy on their own!

📝 Ingredients

• 3 cup masa harina
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• oil for frying (as needed)
• 1 1/2 lb potatoes
• 1 cup melty cheese, shredded (Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, etc.)
• 2 Tbsp pickled jalapeño peppers (or more, to taste)
• 3 Tbsp Mexican crema (or sour cream)
• salt & pepper (to taste)
• 2 cups lettuce (shredded)
• 1 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco (or the cheese you prefer)
• 1 1/2 cup Mexican cream
• Jalapeño sauce (or you favorite salsa)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Make the potato filling ---
2. 2Place potatoes in a pot and cover them with plenty of water. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are nicely softened (about 30-40 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes).
3. 3Allow potatoes to cool down and peel them, then nicely chop them into small chunks. Place potatoes in a mixing bowl.
4. 4Add the cheese to the bowl. Add pickled jalapeños, cream, and season with salt and pepper.
5. 5Mix well until all ingredients are combined. Set aside.
6. 6--- Make quesadillas & cook ---
7. 7Mix masa harina, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Add water and knead until you'll have a soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands.
8. 8Heat 2-inch oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
9. 9Divide the dough into 16 portions and roll each one into a ball.
10. 10Use a tortilla press or a heavy dish to press a dough ball between two plastic sheets to make a thin tortilla.
11. 11Peel the sheet on top and add the potato filling in the middle.
12. 12Fold the tortilla into a half-moon and press it a little bit on the edges to stick them together.
13. 13Remove the last plastic sheet and place the raw quesadilla on your hand, then carefully add it to the hot oil.
14. 14Repeat the steps adding as many quesadillas as fit in your pan.
15. 15Fry quesadillas for 5-6 minutes flipping them once or twice. Baste with oil on the uncooked side so it will seal and make it easier to flip over.
16. 16As you cook them, place them on a paper-lined plate to remove excess oil.
17. 17Once all quesadillas are cooked, divide them into serving plates and garnish with lettuce, cream, cheese, and a good drizzle of salsa.
18. 18Serve and enjoy!