
With the days getting warmer and longer I am always on the lookout for a good no oven, easy, yet super flavorful meal. There is just something about this time of year that screams, “let’s grill everything.”
Or well, at least it does for me. I am pretty excited for summer: summer’s warmth, summer produce and basically all that summer has to offer (ice cream, burgers, watermelon, sweet lemonade and days at the pool or beach).
I know quesadillas can be eaten any time of the year, but something about summer just makes me think quesadillas. Maybe it is their simplicity. Whatever the case, I wanted to create an extra fun quesadilla to celebrate.
Today I am sharing a very Mexican quesadilla with a Korean inspired salsa. It’s a little Mexican Korean fusion food, and it is so good!! Oh, and to make things even more fun, I used a waffle maker to cook my quesadillas. Yes, a waffle maker. I know that may seem odd, but it actually works SO well. It cooks the middle, melts all that cheese and perfectly browns the outside. AND, you don’t even have to mess with flipping the quesadilla. It really makes things so easy and quick!
Plus, I feel like everything cooked in a waffle maker just tastes better…or maybe that’s just because it’s fun and child-like. Either way, the waffle maker cooks a delicious quesadilla!
Before I go, I want to mention a few things about the recipe. The pork part is pretty basic, you just need to marinate for an hour or so before grilling, but the salsa has a special ingredient called Korean Sunchang. It is just a spicy Korean paste that you can find online or at Asian food markets. Some health food stores carry it as well. If you cannot find it or do not feel like looking for it, sriracha can be used in its place.
And that’s it. Hope you all enjoy the quesadillas!
Spicy Pork Al Pastor Quesadilla with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ pounds thin-sliced pork shoulder (1/4-inch-thick slices are perfect)
- 1 white onion, quartered
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt + pepper
- 3 chipotle chilies in adobo, chopped + 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese (I use a mix of cheddar and monterey jack)
- 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
- Fresh cilantro + lime wedges, for serving
- 6 tomatillos, skins removed
- 2 tablespoons Korean Sunchang, can substitute sriracha or Gochujang (Korean chile paste) if needed*
- ¼ cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- Juice from 2 limes
- 1-2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped