Lazy Meals
We all have them. The meal that is your go-to dinner when no one feels like cooking, didn’t go to the grocery store, or don’t want to order delivery. For us, it is black bean quesadillas. We can always count on them filling out bellies quickly and easily. It is a simple and quick meal made in 15 minutes with a handful of items I always have on hand:
- minced garlic
- canned black beans
- canned tomatoes with green chiles
- canned “Mexican” corn
- fresh cilantro
- shredded cheddar cheese
- flour tortillas
I do my best to keep my pantry stocked and fridge filled with essential fresh veg for moments listed in the previous paragraph. I always have a bottle of minced garlic, limes, and fresh cilantro in the fridge since I cook them with 3-4 times a week. I don’t know if flour tortillas go off, but they seem to last forever and we haven’t die yet.
Kitchen Tip: To keep herbs fresh put trimmed herbs in a jar filled with cold water, put a plastic bag over it, and keep in fridge changing the water every 3 days or so.
The key to lazy meals is knowing what works for you and building your pantry around it. Our schedules are hectic though we try to keep them in check. There are days dinner is the last on my mind and having a list of go-to meals I can throw together in 15 is wonderful. Take out is great, but it does take a toll on your waistline and wallet.
Back to our go-to meal of black bean quesadilla which was based on a recipe from Real Simple magazine from years ago and has evolved. It is flexible as to how you make it. It is what I call a drain and dump meal. I like to add a splash of lime juice just to the bean mixture for a zing. We add cheese, but it tastes nice without cheese making a good vegan meal.
Looking for other quick meals? Have a look here.
What’s your go-to meal?
Ingredients
- - 1 tablespoons minced garlic
- - 1 can black beans
- - 1 can tomatoes with green chiles
- - 1 can "Mexican" corn
- - Handful fresh cilantro
- - 2-3 handfuls shredded cheddar cheese
- - 4 flour tortillas
Preparation
- - Preheat broiler.
- - Heat pan with a splash of olive oil.
- - Drain and rise black beans and corn. Add tomatoes on top.
- - Chop cilantro.
- - Add garlic to pan cooking for a minute or until brownish.
- - Add black beans, tomatoes, corn, and cilantro to pan cooking for 5 or so minutes.
- - Using a slotted spoon arrange bean mixture on to tortillas topping with cheese then folding into a half-moon shape.
- - Broil until cheese is melted or until slightly browned.
Hello! I'm Ann Marie and I wear the well-worn apron. Join me as explore plant-based eating while I live on an island off the U.S. state of Rhode Island.