Quick & Tasty Ina Garten Smoked Salmon Quesadilla Recipe

Smoked salmon quesadillas represent a delightful fusion of unexpected flavors that dance across your palate with surprising elegance.

These sophisticated tortilla-wrapped delicacies blend rich, silky seafood with creamy cheese and zesty seasonings.

Culinary enthusiasts appreciate how such a simple concept transforms modest ingredients into something remarkable.

Elegant yet approachable, quesadillas offer a canvas for creative combinations that challenge traditional meal expectations.

Crisp tortillas envelop tender, smoky fish and tangy cheese, creating a harmonious balance of textures and tastes.

Each bite promises a sophisticated culinary adventure that elevates casual dining to an art form.

Why You’ll Want to Try Smoked Salmon Quesadillas

• Create Creamy Flavor Fusion: The combination of cream cheese, goat cheese, and smoky chipotle sauce delivers an incredibly rich and complex taste that tantalizes your taste buds with every bite.
• Elevate Simple Ingredients: Smoked salmon transforms ordinary quesadillas into a gourmet experience, turning a classic comfort food into an elegant appetizer or light meal that feels luxurious yet approachable.
• Master Quick Culinary Magic: This recipe takes just 15 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want restaurant-quality flavor without spending hours in the kitchen, ideal for impromptu gatherings or solo indulgence.
• Customize with Ease: The versatile recipe allows endless variations by swapping ingredients or adjusting spice levels, giving home chefs the flexibility to make the dish uniquely their own while maintaining its delicious core elements.

The Ingredients Behind Smoked Salmon Quesadillas

• Cream Cheese: Creamy base for the spread, rich and tangy flavor.
• Goat Cheese: Adds tanginess and smooth texture to the cheese mixture.
• Creme Fraiche or Sour Cream: Provides a cool, creamy sauce with slight tang.

• Smoked Salmon: Delicate, smoky protein that brings a luxurious seafood element.
• Shallots: Fresh, mild onion flavor that complements the salmon.
• Roasted Red Pepper: Sweet and slightly smoky vegetable for added depth.

• Tortillas: Soft flour tortillas for wrapping the quesadilla filling.
• Chipotle Peppers: Adds smoky, spicy kick to the sauce.
• Lime Juice: Bright, acidic element to balance the rich cheeses.
• Fresh Cilantro: Herb garnish with fresh, citrusy notes.
• Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings to enhance overall flavor.

Making Quesadillas with Ina’s Smoked Salmon Style

Step 1: Whip Up The Zesty Sauce

• Minced chipotle peppers
• Fresh lime juice
• Pinch of salt
• Cracked black pepper

Whisk ingredients until smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Create Dreamy Cheese Blend

In a separate bowl, blend cream cheese and goat cheese until perfectly combined and silky.

Step 3: Build Flavor-Packed Quesadillas

• Chopped smoked salmon
• Finely diced shallots
• Roasted red pepper (chopped)

Gently fold tortillas to seal in all the delicious ingredients.

Step 4: Sizzle To Golden Perfection

Warm a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Lightly grease the surface with cooking spray or butter. Place quesadillas on the hot surface and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side until edges turn golden brown and cheese melts completely.

Step 5: Garnish And Serve

Sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro over the quesadillas. Plate the crispy quesadillas alongside the prepared zesty sauce. Slice into triangles and enjoy immediately while warm and crisp.

Helpful Tips for Crisp and Creamy Quesadillas

• Elevate Salmon Quality: Select high-grade, wild-caught smoked salmon for a richer, more authentic flavor profile.
• Master Cheese Spreadability: Gently warm cream cheese and goat cheese at room temperature for smooth, even distribution across tortillas.
• Perfect Tortilla Technique: Use a heavy skillet or griddle to achieve golden-brown, crispy edges without burning the delicate tortilla.
• Balance Filling Proportions: Layer ingredients strategically, ensuring each bite contains a harmonious blend of salmon, cheese, and herbs.
• Enhance Serving Presentation: Cut quesadillas diagonally and garnish with fresh dill or chives for a professional, restaurant-style finish.

Storing Your Salmon Quesadillas Properly

• Freeze Properly: Seal quesadillas in vacuum-sealed bags to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal flavor. Wrap each quesadilla individually in parchment paper before placing in freezer bags, creating a protective barrier against moisture and freezer odors.
• Refrigerate Smartly: Position quesadillas in a single layer inside airtight glass containers to prevent sogginess. Stack with parchment paper between layers if multiple quesadillas are stored together, preserving their crispy texture and preventing sticking.
• Reheat Carefully: Restore quesadillas' original crispness by using a skillet or air fryer instead of a microwave. Warm at medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side, ensuring the salmon remains tender and the cheese melts perfectly without drying out the tortilla.

Quesadilla Twists to Keep Things Fresh

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Replace chipotle peppers with harissa paste, swap goat cheese for feta, and add chopped kalamata olives for a Mediterranean-inspired quesadilla.
• Scandinavian Seafood Style: Use dill instead of cilantro, replace cream cheese with soft Swedish cheese, and add capers to complement the smoked salmon's Nordic roots.
• Southwestern Smokehouse: Incorporate jalapeños into the cheese mixture, use pepper jack cheese instead of goat cheese, and sprinkle with crispy bacon bits for extra crunch and smoky flavor.
• Asian Inspired Ocean Roll: Mix wasabi into the cream cheese, add thinly sliced green onions, and drizzle with sesame oil before serving for an East Asian-inspired seafood quesadilla.

Wrap-Up of the Salmon Quesadilla Recipe

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s smoked salmon quesadilla, blending Mexican and coastal flavors with elegant simplicity.

Creamy cheese, smoky salmon, and zesty chipotle create a harmonious symphony of taste sensations.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this recipe transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dining experience.

Cheese melts luxuriously between tortilla layers, while salmon adds rich maritime depth to each delectable bite.

Perfect for intimate gatherings or spontaneous gourmet moments, this dish promises to impress discerning palates.

Savor this masterpiece, share its delightful story, spark conversation with fellow epicurean enthusiasts, and let passion for remarkable cuisine inspire your culinary adventures.

Ina Garten Smoked Salmon Quesadilla Recipe

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4.6 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s smoked salmon quesadilla blends Mexican and Mediterranean flavors into an elegant appetizer. Crisp tortillas cradle creamy goat cheese and delicate salmon, creating a luxurious bite that melts perfectly in your mouth.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 flour tortillas (8 inches)
• 3 ounces (85 grams) smoked salmon or lox, chopped
• 2 ounces (57 grams) fresh goat cheese

Vegetable and Herb Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (40 grams) finely chopped shallots
• ¼ cup (40 grams) finely chopped roasted sweet red pepper
• ¼ cup (15 grams) coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) creme fraiche or sour cream
• ¼ cup (57 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lime juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, thoroughly combine sour cream or creme fraiche, finely minced chipotle peppers, freshly squeezed lime juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well blended.
2. Using a separate bowl, carefully cream together softened cream cheese and crumbled goat cheese until achieving a velvety, uniform consistency.
3. Take each tortilla and generously spread the smooth cheese mixture across one half of the surface, ensuring even coverage.
4. Distribute chopped smoked salmon pieces, delicately diced shallots, and finely chopped roasted red peppers evenly over the cheese layer.
5. Gently fold the tortillas in half, creating a half-moon shape that encapsulates the flavorful filling.
6. Lightly grease a griddle or large skillet with vegetable oil and heat to medium temperature (around 350°F or 175°C).
7. Carefully place the filled quesadillas onto the heated surface and cook for approximately 1-2 minutes per side, watching for a golden-brown exterior and melted cheese interior.
8. Remove quesadillas from heat and let rest for 30 seconds to stabilize the filling.
9. Sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro leaves over the top as a vibrant garnish.
10. Serve immediately alongside the prepared chipotle cream sauce for dipping.

Notes

• Grab farm-fresh salmon and creamy goat cheese to elevate the taste of your quesadillas.
• Pull cream cheese from the refrigerator 30 minutes before prep to ensure smooth, effortless blending.
• Spread filling sparingly to prevent messy overflow and maintain clean, crisp quesadilla edges.
• Monitor your stovetop carefully, using medium heat for golden-brown tortillas and perfectly melted cheese.
• Plate and devour these delectable quesadillas immediately while they’re hot, crispy, and bursting with flavor.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 437
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 525 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 17 g
• Cholesterol: 56 mg