Blooming Quesadilla Ring Appetizer (Print Version)

Mini cheese quesadillas arranged in a blooming ring, baked golden and perfect for dipping with salsa and sour cream.

# What You'll Need:

→ Quesadillas

01 - 16 small flour tortillas, 5-6 inches diameter
02 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
04 - 1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
05 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
06 - 1 small green onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Garnish and Dipping

12 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
13 - 1 cup prepared salsa
14 - 1/2 cup sour cream
15 - 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
16 - Lime wedges (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, black beans, bell pepper, green onion, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
03 - Cut each tortilla in half to create 32 semicircles.
04 - Place 1 tablespoon of cheese mixture on each semicircle. Fold the straight edge over the filling to form a triangle, pressing gently to seal.
05 - Arrange quesadilla triangles with points facing inward and slightly overlapping in a tight ring on the baking sheet to form a blooming flower shape.
06 - Brush the tops of all quesadilla triangles with melted butter.
07 - Bake for 18-20 minutes until tortillas are golden and cheese is melted.
08 - Slide onto a serving platter and sprinkle with fresh cilantro.
09 - Place salsa, sour cream, and avocado slices in small bowls in the center of the ring for dipping. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours, but really you just folded triangles and made a circle.
  • Everyone pulls their own piece, so no one hovers with a spatula trying to serve.
  • You can sneak in vegetables and beans without anyone complaining because melted cheese is very persuasive.
02 -
  • If your tortillas are stiff or cold, they will crack when you fold them, let them sit at room temperature for ten minutes first.
  • Overlapping the triangles tightly is what keeps the ring from falling apart, loose arrangements look pretty but collapse when you try to move them.
03 -
  • Use a pizza cutter to slice the tortillas quickly and evenly without tearing them.
  • Brush butter on the bottom of the ring too if you want extra crunch, just flip it carefully halfway through baking.
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