Pulled Chicken Quesadillas with Melting Cheese

Ingredients

• 400g cooked chicken breast, shredded
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 red onion, finely sliced
• 1 red pepper, roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 lime, juice only
• 15g fresh coriander, chopped
• 8 large flour tortillas
• 150g mature cheddar, grated
• 100g mozzarella, grated
• 100g soured cream (optional)
• Quick pickled red cabbage slaw, to serve
• guacamole, to serve
• tomato salsa, to serve
• refried beans, to serve

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium–high. Add the sliced red onion and red pepper and cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring now and then, until softened with the edges beginning to char and caramelise.
2. Stir in the crushed garlic, smoked paprika and cumin and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the shredded chicken, lime juice and salt and toss for 2–3 minutes until the chicken is thoroughly heated and the spices cling — the filling should look glossy and slightly sticky.
3. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then stir through the chopped coriander so the mixture is bright and lightly herby. Tip into a bowl while you assemble.
4. Wipe out the pan and set it over medium heat. Lay one tortilla flat, scatter a generous handful of cheddar and mozzarella over one half, spoon over a quarter of the chicken filling, then top with another scatter of cheese. Fold the tortilla over and press gently with a spatula.
5. Cook for 2–3 minutes each side until deeply golden and crisp on the outside and the cheese has melted into stringy ribbons inside. Flip carefully — the edges should be properly bronzed and the interior molten.
6. Transfer to a board and rest for 1 minute so the filling settles, then slice into wedges. Each cut should reveal gooey cheese and pockets of spiced chicken.
7. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, filling and cheese. Serve immediately with soured cream, guacamole, tomato salsa and refried beans, with lime wedges for squeezing and extra coriander scattered over.