Best 9 Rachael Rays Caprese Mezza Luna Italian Quesadilla Recipes

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For a dish that combines Italian flavors with Mexican delight, look no further than Rachael Ray's Caprese Mezza Luna Italian Quesadilla. This innovative recipe brings together fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, aromatic basil, and tangy balsamic vinegar in a crispy, golden-brown quesadilla. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or an impressive appetizer to wow your guests, this recipe has got you covered.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

MINI CAPRESE SALAD



Mini Caprese Salad image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 15m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 lemon, juiced
1 small clove garlic, grated or minced
1 cup basil leaves, about 20 leaves, plus a few for garnish
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, multi colored if available, halved
1 cup bocconcini (bite-sized fresh mozzarella balls), drained, halved
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Combine lemon juice, garlic, basil in food processor or blender, process and stream in extra-virgin olive oil to form a smooth dressing. Combine tomatoes, cheese and dressing in a bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with a few torn basil leaves.

CAPRESE SALAD



Caprese Salad image

For something fresh and Italian, make Rachael Ray's Caprese Salad recipe from 30 Minute Meals on Food Network; it's filled with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 10m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

3 vine-ripe tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices
1 pound fresh mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices
20 to 30 leaves (about 1 bunch) fresh basil
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Coarse salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

ITALIAN BARBECUED BEEF SANDWICHES WITH HOT AND SWEET CAPRESE SALAD



Italian Barbecued Beef Sandwiches with Hot and Sweet Caprese Salad image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Time 1h5m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 cup ketchup
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons dark amber maple syrup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
1/3 palmful coarsely ground black pepper
1 cup beef or chicken stock-in-a-box
1 1/2 to 2 pounds sliced Italian roast beef (substitute thick-sliced deli beef when leftovers are not available)
4 crusty Italian sub rolls or chunks of ciabatta bread
1 cup giardiniera Italian hot pickled vegetables, drained and chopped
2 cups arugula or watercress leaves, chopped
4 balls bocconcini, quartered
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup basil leaves, torn or chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Combine all of the ingredients for the barbecue sauce in small pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook until thickened, about 30 minutes. Cool completely and store in the refrigerator for a make-ahead meal.
  • Reheat the sauce over medium-low heat to warm.
  • Heat the stock in a skillet over medium heat until boiling. Reduce the heat to low, add the roast beef and simmer until the meat is warmed through but not dried out. When the liquids have just about evaporated, pour the barbecue sauce over the meat and stir gently to combine.
  • Lightly toast or warm the bread. Pile the barbecue meat into the sub rolls and top with pickled chopped vegetables.
  • Add the arugula, the cheese, tomatoes and basil to medium salad bowl. Douse with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss to combine and serve with the beef sandwiches.

ITALIAN QUESADILLAS



Italian Quesadillas image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
2 large onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
9 (8-inch-diameter) flour tortillas
3 cups shredded Fontina
3/4 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, drained well and patted dry
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
1/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan, plus 3 tablespoons for garnish

Steps:

  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and sugar, and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Season the onions, to taste, with salt and pepper; set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
  • Sprinkle some Fontina over half of a tortilla. Arrange some bell peppers and sauteed onions on top of the Fontina. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and Parmesan. Sprinkle more Fontina over. Fold the clean half over the filling to cover and press gently to seal. Repeat with remaining tortillas evenly dividing the filling ingredients.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil on a heavy large griddle over medium heat. Working in batches, cook the quesadillas until the cheese melts and the tortillas are golden brown, adding more oil as needed, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the quesadillas to baking sheets and keep them warm in the oven while cooking the remaining quesadillas.
  • Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges. Arrange them on a platter. Garnish the platter with parsley sprigs and serve.

CAPRESE MEZZA LUNA IN 10 AND CHICKEN AND BROCCOLINI WITH ASIAGO SAUCE IN 15



Caprese Mezza Luna in 10 and Chicken and Broccolini with Asiago Sauce in 15 image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/3 to 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, both for brushing and cooking chicken
2 cloves crushed garlic
4 large flour tortillas, about 10 to 12 inches
1 ball fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
12 leaves fresh basil, shredded
2 vine ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bundle broccolini, trimmed of 1 inch of stem end
2 tablespoons butter
1 rounded tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup grated Asiago cheese

Steps:

  • For appetizers, heat oil in a small pot with garlic until it bubbles, simmer a minute. Brush a skillet with garlic oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the first tortilla and blister it 30 seconds, flip and cover half of the surface with arranged layers of mozzarella, basil and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and fold over the quesadilla, cook 30 seconds on each side to set. Remove from pan and repeat. In less than 10 minutes, you'll have 4 half moons (mezza lunas). Cut into quarters and serve.
  • Pour a couple tablespoons of remaining oil into a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Cook chicken 6 minutes on each side, turning once, until golden and juices run clear. While chicken cooks, heat 1-inch water over high heat in small high sides skillet, to a boil. Add salt and broccolini to the water and cook 3 to 4 minutes, drain and reserve. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat in a small sauce pot, stir flour into melted butter, cook 1 minute then whisk in milk and cook to thicken, about 2 to 3 minutes, stir in cheese and season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken topped with broccolini and pour sauce over top - in less than 15 minutes you have a low maintenance Chicken Divan!

RACHAEL RAY'S CAPRESE MEZZA LUNA (ITALIAN QUESADILLA)



Rachael Ray's Caprese Mezza Luna (Italian Quesadilla) image

Using only the ingredients in the well-known caprese salad (plus a tortilla), Ray comes up with a quesadilla that you will love eating. I made this is a dry skillet (omitting step 1) heating each side of the filled tortilla till it crisped up and showed brown spots. Ray uses quarters of these quesadillas as appetizers. I ate mine as lunch!

Provided by Lorraine of AZ

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 10m

Yield 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 large flour tortillas, about 10-12 inches
1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
12 leaves fresh basil, shredded
2 tomatoes, vine-ripened and thinly sliced
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a small pot with garlic until it bubbles, simmer a minute. Brush a skillet with garlic oil and heat over medium-high heat.
  • Add the first tortilla and blister it 30 seconds, flip and cover half of the surface with arranged layers of mozzarella, basil and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and fold over the quesadilla.
  • Cook 30 seconds on each side to set. Remove from pan and repeat. Cut into quarters and serve as appetizers.

POLLO RANCHO LUNA - RANCHO LUNA'S CHICKEN



Pollo Rancho Luna - Rancho Luna's Chicken image

I have brought this recipe with me, from the time we left Cuba in 1959 - the year that dreaded man took over - and ruined the country, as we can see now - some 40 odd years later. It is typical of the chicken dishes served all over Miami now.

Provided by Manami

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 tablespoons olive oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 onions, chopped
1 onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup strained orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup white wine
1 whole chicken, quartered (4 lbs)
salt and pepper, to taste
1 bay leaf (optional)
pimento stuffed olive, sliced thin
chopped fresh parsley leaves, garnish (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
  • Add one chopped onion and saute, 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute longer.
  • Set aside.
  • In a separate medium bowl, combine the remaining onion, orange juice, lemon juice and wine.
  • Season with salt, pepper and bay leaf.
  • Add the heated onion & garlic oil and mix well.
  • Place chicken pieces in a 9x13 inch baking dish and pour the juice mixture over the chicken, coating well.
  • Add onion slices and sliced olives.
  • Bake for 1 hour, basting oaccasionally with the sauce.
  • Garnish with parsley leaves, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 748.6, Fat 55, SaturatedFat 12.7, Cholesterol 172.5, Sodium 166, Carbohydrate 16.1, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 7, Protein 44.2

GRILLED CAPRESE QUESADILLAS



Grilled Caprese Quesadillas image

Here's a quick and easy summer lunch that makes great use of garden-grown tomatoes. Feel free to swap in mozzarella or feta for the goat cheese, or make your quesadillas heartier by adding grilled chicken. -Amy Mongiovi, Lititz, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 20m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 whole wheat tortillas (8 inches)
6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
2 medium tomatoes, sliced and patted dry
1/3 cup julienned fresh basil
1/4 cup pitted Greek olives, chopped
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Layer half of each tortilla with cheese and tomatoes; sprinkle with basil, olives and pepper to taste. Fold tortillas to close. , Grill, covered, over medium-high heat until lightly browned and cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes per side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 535 calories, Fat 25g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 67mg cholesterol, Sodium 665mg sodium, Carbohydrate 52g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

ROAST DUCK QUESADILLA



Roast Duck Quesadilla image

Make and share this Roast Duck Quesadilla recipe from Food.com.

Provided by foodart

Categories     Asian

Time 35m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

12 flour tortillas, room temperatures
3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
3 stalks green onions, minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, Chinese
1 duck, roasted at Chinese market
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons plum sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar, Chinese black sweet
2 tablespoons shaoxing wine
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 tablespoon chili oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon dried orange peel
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced ginger
1 teaspoon onion powder

Steps:

  • Set aside the Mongolian sauce.
  • In large mixing bowl hand shredded the duck and blends the rest of the ingredients together.
  • Lightly oil the skillet and place a tortilla and lightly heat and lightly brush some of the Mongolian sauce on the tortilla. Place a hand full in mixture and spread over the tortilla. Place another tortilla on top. Browning one side and turn over and brown other side.
  • Slice and serve hot.
  • Mongolian sauce combines together hoisin sauce all the way down to onion powder and pours into a bottle jar. Refrigerator overnight before using.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1357.4, Fat 110, SaturatedFat 41, Cholesterol 224.9, Sodium 1417.2, Carbohydrate 41.9, Fiber 2.7, Sugar 4.3, Protein 47.4

Tips for a Perfect Caprese Mezza Luna:

  • Fresh Ingredients: Use ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella cheese for the best flavor.
  • Thinly Sliced: Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella thinly to ensure even cooking and melting.
  • Generous Filling: Don't be shy with the filling! For a satisfying bite, fill each mezza luna with a generous amount of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
  • Perfect Fold: Fold the mezza luna tightly to prevent the filling from oozing out during cooking.
  • Crispy Crust: Brush the mezza luna with melted butter or olive oil before cooking for a golden brown and crispy crust.
  • Serve with Dipping Sauce: For an extra layer of flavor, serve the mezza luna with a marinara sauce, pesto sauce, or balsamic glaze.

Conclusion:

Rachael Ray's Caprese Mezza Luna is a delightful combination of Italian flavors, wrapped in a crispy and golden crescent roll. With its vibrant colors and delicious taste, it's perfect for a quick and easy appetizer, lunch, or dinner. Whether you're a fan of Italian cuisine or simply looking for a new and exciting recipe, this Caprese Mezza Luna is sure to impress. So gather your ingredients, follow the simple steps, and indulge in the culinary journey of flavors that awaits!

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