Meals don’t have to be complicated to be healthy. Similarly, vegetarian meals don’t have to be complicated to be tasty.
While I’m not a vegetarian, I try to eat meatless meals often as part of my commitment to be an ethical eater.
And this meal couldn’t have been easier! Black Bean Quesadillas: combine 1 can black beans (drained) with 1 C salsa and 1/2 C corn kernels.
In a frying pan, heat 1 tsp of canola oil.
Top with a tortilla (look for a medium sized one made with whole grains!) and about 1/4 C of bean/salsa/corn mixture.
Top with a bit of cheddar cheese (about 2 T is shown).
Fold tortilla in half. Heat for about a minute, then flip quesadilla. Heat the other side another minute or so, until the cheese is melty.
Enjoy with more salsa, sour cream or guacamole! 
Eat Clean Black Bean Quesadilla’s
Makes 6 quesadilla
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans
- 1 C salsa
- 1/2 C corn kernels
- canola oil
- tortillas
- cheddar cheese
Directions
- Drain and rinse black beans.
- Combine black beans with salsa and corn kernels.
- In a frying pan, heat 1 tsp of canola oil.
- Top with a tortilla and about 1/4 C of bean/salsa/corn mixture.
- Top with a bit of cheddar cheese.
- Fold tortilla in half. Heat for about a minute, then flip quesadilla.
- Heat the other side another minute or so, until the cheese is melty.
In addition to the health and ethical benefits of vegetarian meals, the cost savings are pretty great too! Here’s a rundown of what this meal cost me:
Total = $8
Total per quesadilla = $1.33
Pretty impressive!
What’s your favorite ‘simple’ meal?
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree… vegetarian meals can be simple and delicious. Thanks for this quick and easy recipe.
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Great recipe! I love quesadillas
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Love this! Vegetarian (and vegan!) meals are for some reason intimidating to a lot of people, but they’re really so easy! And CHEAP! This unemployed gal loves her vegan diet.
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Cheap, tasty, simple…I’m sold!
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can I cheat and go with the simplest meal of all – a can of vegetable soup, mmmmmm!
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This is one of my favorite meal! Seriously, I love black beans, corn, and a bit of cheese in a whole wheat or corn tortilla. Oh yum. I want one for breakfast!
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definitely quesadillas, but i usually just sautee veggies (chicken for him) and put cheese on it & voila! and top it with my own guacamole (made without onions!)
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Sometimes the simplest meals are the best! Looks good – love the red corn tortilla.
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So simple and looks great!
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Love that your eating quesadillas. And that one looks particularly good.
My favorite simple meal is some stir fried veggies over brown rice. It never gets old for me.
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Mmm…looks great. My fav simple meal is poached eggs on toast. The only pain is washing the poaching pan afterwards. Egg is so hard to clean!
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Spicy black beans and couscous
Combine 1 can drained and rinsed beans, 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes, 1 diced green pepper, 1 tsp cumin, a pinch or more of cayenne
Simmer over med heat for abouit 10-15 minutes, serve over couscous
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That meal is pretty close to one of my fav simple meals! Toss in a spicy black bean burger and some brown rice, and I’m a happy little duck.
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Pretty tortillas! Were they flavored?
I use whatever’s in the fridge to make a panini (kale and eggs, kale and feta with onions) etc! Those are regulars on my blog!
I’m loving the Taste of Nature bars by the way!
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Allison Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Yay! I’m glad you like them
The tortilla’s were tomato!
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