Tuna Quesadillas

As you camp more frequently, the desire for tasty meals from home seem to overtake claims that “ramen and GORP are the perfect camping foods.”  Now this is not to say those can’t be tasty (with modifications), but you can easily enjoy many of the foods which you love to eat at home right on the trail.

In addition to making delicious meals on our trips, we also enjoy making foods that require minimal cleanup.  Less cleanup time equals more time enjoying where you are in nature.  One of our favorite, easy meals is Tuna Quesadillas.  Anyone whose made quesadillas at home knows how blessedly simple these delicatessens are to make as well as eat.

To make these, follow these guidelines:

WHAT YOU NEED:

Tuna in a metal pouch bag (several companies are making these now, including the generic Target brand)

Quesadilla cheese

Veggies

Ziploc bags (2)

Tortillas (smaller ones are easier to fit in the pan and easier to store)

Camping frying pan (light weigh – anodized metal preferred)

Spray Liquid Butter (Parkay works best)

AT HOME:

1. Grade/slice quesadilla cheese into a Ziploc.
2. Cut and sauté some veggies (your choice) in some spices for a filling.
3. Place the cooled veggies in a separate Ziploc bag.

ON THE TRAIL:

1. Spray liquid butter in a frying pan (anodized metal pan is best).
2. Spray liquid butter on one side of your tortillas.
3. Place tortilla, butter side down, in the pan (this is before pan is over heat – should be cool)
4. Fill tortilla with quesadilla cheese, veggie filling, and tuna.
5. Fold in half and place pan on a medium hi burner.
6. Cook on one side until browned to your liking.
7. Flip over and repeat cooking.  The cheese should be melted by the time your done

Some tips:

1. If you can’t keep those cooked veggies cooled while in transport, just bring raw veggies such as a bell pepper or some mushrooms – cut them up at camp and put them in the quesadilla raw with some spices – might be a little more crunchy, but still tastes great!

2. You don’t have to shred the cheese beforehand – you can bring just a block of cheese to the camp site and slice it there with a typical camping knife.

3. Tuna in pouches often come pre-seasoned – if you’re into hot and spicy foods – we recommend getting the “hot and spicy” tuna flavor – works well in this dish!