The Origin of Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a hot greasy Mexican dish, with enough stretchy cheese to make you fall in love! But have you ever wondered how they were first served?

No cheese?

Actually, when quesadillas were first made, cheese hadn’t come to Spain. Neither had the popular flour tortillas. Quesadillas were made of corn tortillas, pumpkins, beans and squash!

I boiled squash and the mashed it up, after that I added it to a corn tortilla! Then I grilled it at medium heat for a few minutes till brown!

Tortillas

Nobody actually knows who or how tortillas were first made. It is suspected that a woman made them in the times when men were hunters and gatherers.

The Evolution of Quesadillas

Europeans brought over livestock, like cows, to Mexico. This allowed Mexico enjoy dairy products. Europeans also brought over grains, like wheat. The classic cheese and flour tortilla quickly became popular.

I added cheese to a flour tortilla, and then grilled on medium heat till crispy and brown!

Adaptations

Quesadillas immediately became a staple in Mexico. People started to add chicken and beef and other fillings for taste and protein. They also added toppings like guacamole and salsa.

Moving to America

As Mexicans migrated to America, so did quesadillas! They came to America in the 20th century and became a popular lunch option.

Pros and Cons

I tried both modern and ancient quesadillas! Here are the pros and cons of both:

Pros for Modern: Cheesy, easy to make, simple

Pros for Ancient: Healthy, natural, filling

Cons for Modern: Greasy, heavy on dairy and gluten.

Cons for Ancient: Gross, mushy, it tastes weird.

Which is Better?

After careful consideration, I think the modern version is better because of the delectable taste and crispy texture!