Mexican Food: What Makes The Perfect Quesadilla?

The quesadilla is a staple on any Mexican food menu, and for a good reason. They are a highly requested and continually ordered food item at Tequila Sunrise Mexican Grill. They are as popular as our tacos, and they taste amazing dipped in sour cream, salsa, or queso.

With such a famous and popular food, it’s interesting to learn how it came to be.

The quesadilla is extremely common nowadays, but it wasn’t always a staple in Mexican food. It’s a delicious and savory meal that you can stuff with just about anything. Still, quesadillas didn’t always look like how we know them today. In Mexico, a common food was pumpkin and squash eaten in a corn tortilla baked in a clay oven. They filled the tortilla so the snack could be portable.

When the Spanish came to Mexico in the 16th century, they brought animals that could produce milk. This introduced dairy into the Mexican’s diets. Old world foods, like chicken and dairy, were combined with the new world tortilla. They added cheese into their pumpkin and squash tortilla and created the first quesadillas.

Eventually, people replaced the corn tortillas with flour ones, depending on the region of the world in which they reside. Soon, it increased in popularity in its area of origin, and then all over the world. Over time, people have created countless variations of this Mexican food, and it remains popular to this day.

Quesadilla literally means "cheese tortilla," so the only essential ingredients are the cheese and some type of tortilla. Still, even the cheese doesn’t seem necessary anymore if the person eating it is vegan. Over time, its meaning has grown to encompass anything folded up and grilled in a tortilla. This has afforded us the ability to be creative when making quesadillas.

Almost any type of food can be added to a quesadilla, and it can be eaten at any meal. A breakfast quesadilla can have salsa, eggs, bacon, and cheese. When it comes to lunch or dinner, there are really no rules. You can include any meat, cheese, and vegetables that you desire. Then, you can change it up again the next day.

People traditionally used Oaxaca cheese to make a quesadilla; it has a similar texture to mozzarella. If you wanted to make the most traditional quesadilla possible, Oaxaca cheese, chicken, and some type of squash would be the way to go.

That’s not very different from the fan-favorite chicken quesadilla that is so popular today. While we don’t typically include any squash in modern quesadillas, we often include peppers, mushrooms, onions, and other vegetables to keep it interesting.

If you want a more modern and equally delicious quesadilla, or other Mexican food options, the appetizers section of our menu is where to look. We offer the classic veggie, steak, or chicken options for the diners who like the traditional. We also offer shrimp and crab quesadillas for the seafood lover. Everyone will be able to find a quesadilla they will love. Our selection is sure to please any Mexican food lover.

Pair the quesadillas with a side of guacamole and one of our specialty margaritas. You’ll be setting yourself to have a fantastic night -- just make sure to have a safe way home. Once you have one margarita, you’ll want another. We have the best happy hour in town.

If you find yourself in South Florida, stop in Tequila Sunrise Mexican Grill for one of our quesadillas or any of our Mexican food. We have daily specials worth writing home about.

Call us at (954) 938 4473 and our team will answer any questions you may have or help you make a reservation.