Mid-way through congratulating ourselves (and alerting Merriam Webster) that we'd invented a new food and coined a word, we learned that we are the 1,256,339th person to make pizzadillas from leftover tortillas and that "pizzadilla" entered the esteemed OED in 1444. Anyone who hasn't tried this quick, kid-friendly snack, read on for the simple how-to.
What You Need
Ingredients
vegetable or canola oil
flour tortillas
pizza or tomato sauce (jarred or homemade)
pizza toppings - traditional or otherwise (we used ricotta, mozzarella and pepperoni)
Equipment
small pan
spatula
kitchen scissors or sharp knife
Instructions
(note: these do not exactly follow the photos above)
1. Using kitchen scissors (or a knife) cut your tortilla in half.
2. Layer your "pizza" toppings. We like to start with ricotta as a base followed by sauce and other toppings to make a less messy end product, but layer however you like.
3. Add a small amount of vegetable or canola oil to your pan (no need to measure, but perhaps a teaspoon or so) and heat on medium until it's hot and sizzling (about a minute).
4. Fold your tortilla in half with the toppings on the bottom and transfer to pan by hand or spatula.
5. Cover with a pan lid (optional, but helps the cheese melt).
6. Cook for 2-3 minutes (tortilla should be golden) and flip.
7. Cook on opposite side for about 1 minute until everything is nicely melted.
8. Remove with spatula and let cool.
9. Cut in half and serve as finger food.
Additional Notes: This is a great way to use up odds and ends from the fridge so get creative with your toppings. Healthier versions might include roasted red peppers, sauteed mushrooms, spinach, etc. Readers at the Kitchn have thought of all kinds of ways to use leftover tortillas - check them out.
(Images: Carrie McBride)
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
Fantastic idea! We often make english muffin pizzas - this would be a nice change!!
view Karajoy's profile
Hey! I've been making those for about a year!
I buy frozen chopped spinach from the supermarket (it comes in cubes so you can unfreeze a little at a time), and spread it over one of the tortillas. Another idea is to mix with creamed corn. Add cheese, toast on both sides in a frypan and voila!
We had BBQ chicken ones last night with salad. SO easy and delicious.
view applecat's profile
The alternate pizzadilla (also invented out of substitution, and mistakenly thought to be the invent of the food) is to use pre-made crust for an individual pizza in place of a tortilla with traditional quesadilla filling, and cook normally (I used a paninni press). Surprisingly satisfying!
view megmug's profile
We make single-serving pizzas using whole wheat pitas in our toaster oven. My son loves that he gets his own pizza and doesn't even notice the nutritious crust!
view greta's profile
I like to make tortilla pizzas in the toaster oven.
Spread some ranch dressing(or whatever sauce you prefer,alfredo is good to) on a tortilla,
top with mozzarella and the toppings of your choice(I like to use left over chicken)
Then just pop into a hot toaster oven long enough to melt cheese.Yummy and fast.
view Scoop's profile
I'd never heard of this before and I've been bloggin about kid snacks for a while now. Thanks for the intro!
view crowland's profile
I gave these a try on Superbowl night resulting from having people over while my oven is on the fritz. They were a huge hit. I used whole wheat tortillas, fresh mozzarella, and alternated between pepperoni and basil pesto. Great dish, super easy!
view dotsamantha's profile