Spicy Shakib Al Hasan's International T20 Quesadilla

And a good day to you.  I know it's been simply ages, but I've had business to take care of.  Anyways,  lately I've made some very nice friends from Bangladesh, and I was asked to be local cricket team's photographer at a recent tournament.  My goodness, it was fun all round, as one can see from the photos...

Anyhoo, these nice gents have a bone to pick with me: in fact, they're cross that I hardly ever talk about Bangladesh cricket or Bangladeshi food.  So today, in order to remedy some of this blog's Bangla-deficiency, we're going to have a look at that hot hunk of burnin' sports love known as all-rounder Shakib Al-Hasan.  Furthermore, in keeping with the international spirit of T20 cricket, we're going to make a Mexican-based classic light meal with some Bangladeshi ingredients that will please even the most fickle of palates.

Spicy Shakib Al Hasan's International T20 Quesadilla

Shakib Al Hasan is the #1 ranked all-rounder in Test Cricket and ODI's.  This package of awesome talent is only 25 years old and has already been Wisden's Cricketer of the year for 2009.   Hopefully we'll be seeing him break records and remain at his peak condition for years to come.  Well done!  Mr. Al Hasan, you deserve to have a dish named after you!

QUESADILLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!

A quesadilla (pronounced kay sa dee ya) is basically a cheese filled flour or corn tortilla, which is like a very very thin roti.  In its most simple form, cheese is placed on the tortilla, it's folded in half, and then it is heated up in a little bit of oil in a pan.  Many Mexicans will top their quesadilla with some thick cream and salsa (which I will describe in tomorrow's post.)  

Quesadillas, along with cheese, can also have a variety of fillings; pumpkin flowers, huitlacoche mushrooms, chicken, ham, whatever one wants.   Today's quesadilla will be a mushroom and cheese quesadilla, because apparently Bangladesh is an exporter of mushrooms.

Also, our quesadilla will be topped with a mexican pico de gallo salsa which is very similar to a Bangladesh topping of tomatoes, onions, lime juice and salt.  However due to time restrictions, the salsa recipe will be posted tomorrow.  But have no fear:  quesadillas are also delicious by themselves with no topping if one desires.  

But enough talk from me!  Put on an apron and sharpen your knives and stop wasting time!

Ingredients (to make 1 )

2 or 3 button mushrooms, sliced

about a handful of grated cheese, cheddar usually working the best

some sliced onion

some mustard seeds

some mustard oil

dried red chilies, roasted

a bit of salt

one flour tortilla or one very thin roti

some thick cream for topping (optional)

some pico de gallo salsa (optional and to be posted tomorrow)

Heat some mustard oil in a pan.  

Fry the mustard seeds and onions until golden.

Add the mushrooms, fry until the onions are very crispy and the mushrooms are thoroughly cooked

Remove the mushrooms and onions from the pan.

Quickly dry-roast the dried red chili directly on the burner

Replace pan on the burner, and place the roti in it, on medium heat.

Place the cooked mushrooms, onions and cheese on one half of the roti

Crush the roasted red chili on top of cheese and mushrooms

Fold the roti in half, and fry for a couple of minutes, then flip over

Fry until all the cheese inside has melted.

Serve immediately with a dollop of thick cream and a spoonful of pico de gallo salsa if you wish, and eat immediately.

EAT MY QUESADILLAS AND YOU'LL BE BIG AND STRONG LIKE ME

And that's Shakib Al Hasan's International T20 Quesadilla, a great all-round light meal or filling snack, great any time of day and tasty for everyone, whether vegetarian or carnivore.  Enjoy the cooking, enjoy the cricket, and enjoy life in general!

As they say in the old bayou, laterz gaterz!

PS Thanks gents for the lovely day at the cricket!  Let me know when the next tournament is :D