Vegan Smoky Vegetable Quesadillas

Serve these vegan smoky vegetable quesadillas with creamy sriracha dip and salad for the perfect lunch.

We're always well stocked up with flour tortillas.

We use them to make lunch wraps like these onion bhaji wraps; homemade nachos (tortilla chips); sheet-pan vegetable fajitas, sweet potato enchiladas and of course quesadillas.

They are rather handy and these quesadillas are rather special.

Jump to:

• 💭 What is a quesadilla?
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Cooking quesadillas
• 🌶 Ariba! Ariba! It's smoky!
• 🧀 Smoked vegan cheese
• 🥕 Vegetables to use in quesadillas
• 💭 Top Tip
• 🌯 Which tortillas to use to make quesadillas?
• 🌯 Gluten-free quesadillas
• 🥗 How to serve smoky vegetable quesadillas
• 🍵 Vegan dips to serve with smoky vegetable quesadillas
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Want new recipes delivered to your inbox?
• 📋 Pin it for later
• 🥦 Living on the Veg
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make Smoky Vegetable Quesadillas
• 📖 Recipe
• Comments

💭 What is a quesadilla?

I am sure you already know, but just in case, I will explain.

Quesadillas are a Mexican dish made of tortillas (flour or corn) are filled with cheese and other fillings, along with spices and seasonings.

It translates as 'little cheesy thing' which I rather like.

They are usually cooked in a frying pan or griddle.

Once cooked on both sides it is cut into triangles to serve.

Also, try these spicy bean burritos with cheese.

👩🏻‍🍳 Cooking quesadillas

I used to cook my quesadillas in a frying pan, but no longer!

My secret quesadilla maker is actually my electric crepe maker ( I don't have a photo of me making quesadillas on it, I am afraid, but this will give you an idea).

I have to say it is the best purchase I've made over the last couple of years.

I use it to make my popular vegan banana pancakes, to toast (broil) the inside of burger buns and to make quesadillas, which are always perfect, require no oil, and never stick.

Funnily enough, I never make crepes on it.

I highly recommend it. Such a good buy if you make these three yummy dishes or crepes of course.

🌶 Ariba! Ariba! It's smoky!

Smoky but not hot.

The smoky flavour comes from paprika and smoked vegan cheese.

There's lots of flavour but not too much heat.

If you like heat, you can add extra chilli.

Love quesadillas? Try these black bean, salsa and cheese quesadillas.

🧀 Smoked vegan cheese

Most quesadillas are filled with cheese as the main ingredient and these are no different.

Ask me a few years ago and I would say save money and never buy grated cheese, but roll forward to today and I am a super busy mum and I'm all for anything that saves me time.

The vegan smoked cheese I used in these quesadillas is Vegan Smoked Applewood Cheese.

There are other options, but this one is our favourite and it melts like a dream, so it's perfect for toasties and quesadillas.

It comes in a block, slices and grated.

Lovely stuff!

🥕 Vegetables to use in quesadillas

There are so many vegetables you can use in quesadillas.

For these smoky vegetable quesadillas, I added red bell pepper, carrot and spring onions (scallions).

These vegetables are also particularly good in quesadillas.

• Beets - fresh or pickled, grated
• Carrots - grated
• Leeks - finely sliced and sauteed
• Mushrooms - sauteed or grilled
• Onions - finely sliced, sauteed and seasoned
• Red Onion - finely diced or sliced
• Red, Yelllow or Orange Peppers - finely sliced or diced
• Spring Onions - also known as scallions
• Sweet Potato - roasted or baked

💭 Top Tip

While it's great to add vegetables to a quesadilla, it's important to get the quantities right.

You always want more cheese than vegetables and always chop or slice the veg very finely.

The melted cheese (apart from being gorgeous). will hold the tortilla together like a particularly tasty and edible glue.

Also, try topping the filling with some of this easy homemade pizza seasoning.

🌯 Which tortillas to use to make quesadillas?

Traditionally quesadillas are made with corn tortillas, first by the Aztecs who stuffed them with squash and then later by the Spanish who added cheese.

I like to use flour tortillas, but you could use your favourite type of tortillas or even make your own tortillas at home.

The main thing is to choose large tortillas, so there is plenty of room for fillings.

🌯 Gluten-free quesadillas

Quesadillas are a great option if you are on a gluten-free diet.

There's such a good variety of gluten-free wraps to choose from. Just use your favourite and make the quesadillas in exactly the same way as the standard quesadillas.

Also try Lentil Burrito Lunch Wraps

🥗 How to serve smoky vegetable quesadillas

Here are a few ideas for serving smoky vegetable quesadillas.

• salad & dip for dunking
• sliced avocado and salsa
• on the side with soup (we're having that tonight!)
• sweet potato fries and dip
• potato wedges and salad

Smoky vegetable quesadillas are great served hot for lunch or dinner, but they are actually pretty good cold in a lunchbox too.

Kids love them.

If you are looking for ideas for vegan kids' lunchboxes, check out my guide Back to School Vegan Packed Lunches and 45 Back to School Lunches for Vegan Kids.

For more inspiration check out 101 Vegan Sandwiches - Back to School Kids Lunch boxes.

🍵 Vegan dips to serve with smoky vegetable quesadillas

Here are a few easy homemade dips you could serve with your quesadillas for dunking.

1. Avocado Dip
2. Creamy Russian Dressing
3. Creamy Vegan Sriracha Dip (shown in photo)
4. Lemon & Chive Dip
5. Ranch Dip

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👩🏻‍🍳 How to make Smoky Vegetable Quesadillas

Step-by-step photos of these vegan smoky vegetable quesadillas being made. Keep scrolling for the full printable recipe.

Step 1

• Add grated vegan cheddar to a mixing bowl or large bowl. I used smoky cheese but you could use vegan cheddar.
• Now add grated carrot and finely chopped red pepper and spring onions (scallions)

Step 2

• Add vegan mayo, herbs and spices, mix well and spread on the first evenly across the first tortilla. There is enough for 2 large tortillas or 3 if you spread it thinly.

Step 3

• Top with another tortilla.
• Dry fry in a frying pan or if you are lucky enough to have an electric crepe maker like me cook it on that.
• Leave to cook on one side until it starts to crisp up and golden patches appear, then carefully flip over and toast the other side.
• Move to a chopping board and cut it across the middle in quarters then eigths, a bit like you cut a pizza to make triangles.
• Serve with salad and sriracha dip for dunking.
• Enjoy!

📖 Recipe