Lissa’sProject Vegan
Everyday food · A kitchen note

Black bean quesadillas, held together by the filling

Mash the beans well enough to keep the fold from spilling.

Illustrative image: A bowl of tomato chickpeas and spinach with bread on a wooden table
Kitchen moodboard · An illustrative image from our shared image collection.

A quesadilla does not need a thick layer of plant cheese if the filling already holds together. Coarsely mashed beans do much of that work, leaving the tortilla crisp and the middle soft.

Drain a 400 g tin of black beans. Mash with two tablespoons salsa, half a teaspoon cumin, and a little salt if needed. Spread across one half of each of four small vegan tortillas, leaving a narrow border. Add a small amount of chopped spring onion and fold over.

Cook in a lightly oiled frying pan over medium heat, pressing gently with a spatula. Turn carefully once the underside is golden and continue until the filling is hot. A very high heat can burn the tortilla while leaving the beans cold.

Cut into wedges and serve with chopped tomato or extra salsa. Keep watery additions outside the tortilla; they tend to make the seam leak and the inside soggy. Check packaged tortillas for ingredients rather than assuming every brand is vegan.