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Black Bean and Sweetcorn Quesadillas with Salsa

Crisp wholemeal tortillas filled with smoky spiced black beans, sweetcorn, peppers and melted cheddar, cut into wedges and served with fresh tomato salsa and a cool yogurt dip. Over 10g of fibre a serving.

Lunch

35

Serves 4 (1 quesadilla each)

Golden wholemeal quesadilla wedges stacked on a slate board with a spiced black bean filling, fresh coriander, a bowl of tomato salsa and a pot of yogurt dip

Ingredients

  • 4 large wholemeal tortillas (about 60g/2oz each, 25cm/10in across)
  • 2 tsp (10ml) olive or rapeseed (canola) oil
  • 1 medium red onion (about 100g/3½oz), three quarters chopped for the filling, the rest very finely chopped for the salsa
  • 1 red pepper (bell pepper, about 100g/3½oz once deseeded), diced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika and half a tsp mild chilli powder (about 4g in total)
  • 1 x 400g (14oz) tin (can) black beans, drained and rinsed (about 240g/8½oz drained)
  • 1 x 198g (7oz) tin sweetcorn (corn kernels), drained (use about 140g/5oz)
  • 60g/2oz reduced-fat mature cheddar, grated (choose one made with vegetarian rennet if needed)
  • For the salsa
  • 200g/7oz ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) lime juice
  • 10g/a small handful fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped, plus a few sprigs to serve
  • A pinch of salt
  • To serve
  • 100g/3½oz/scant ½ cup 0% fat Greek yogurt

Method

  1. Make the salsa: mix the tomatoes, the finely chopped quarter of the onion, the lime juice, the coriander and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
  2. Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the rest of the onion and the pepper for 5 minutes, until soft. Stir in the spices for 30 seconds.
  3. Add the beans, sweetcorn and 3 tbsp water and cook for 3 minutes, roughly mashing about half the beans with a fork or potato masher so the filling holds together. Tip into a bowl and wipe out the pan.
  4. Lay the tortillas flat. Spread a quarter of the filling over one half of each, scatter with the cheese and fold over to make half-moons, pressing down gently.
  5. Brush the pan with the remaining oil and heat over a medium heat. Cook the quesadillas two at a time for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until golden and crisp and the cheese has melted.
  6. Cut each quesadilla into 3 wedges and serve with the salsa, the yogurt and a few coriander sprigs, 1 quesadilla each. Leftover filling keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Why it works

One quesadilla gives you about 18g of protein and 11g of fibre for 374 calories. That fibre is over a third of the 30g a day recommended for adults in the UK, thanks to the beans, sweetcorn and wholemeal tortillas.

Why mash half the beans. Roughly mashing some of the black beans turns the filling into a thick, spreadable mixture that holds the quesadilla together, so less cheese is needed.

Lighter swaps. Reduced-fat mature cheddar keeps plenty of flavour, and 0% fat Greek yogurt stands in for soured cream, adding protein instead of fat.

Fresh salsa. Ripe tomatoes, red onion, lime and coriander make a bright salsa that cuts through the melted cheese. Red peppers in the filling add colour and vitamin C.

Not tagged for blood sugar, because the tortillas and sweetcorn bring 45g of carbohydrate. Contains wheat and milk. For more bean-based dishes, try the sweet potato and black bean tacos or the chicken burrito bowl.