Spicy Shrimp Quesadillas with Mango Salsa

A fast and healthy dinner recipe that comes together in 30 minutes! These spicy shrimp quesadillas are packed with fresh produce and tropical flavours!

Poor January. It gets a bad rap. The holidays are over, yet winter is far from over. The days are still short and the temperatures are low.

The "January Blues" are apparently a real thing, and I have to admit, even I have been lagging a little myself lately.

Well, nothing can cheer me up quicker than a plate full of bright, tropical food. Especially if it has a spicy little kick and a pile of fresh mango salsa on top!

These quesadillas are hiding a little secret that may not be obvious at first glance: they are packed full of fresh produce! Bell peppers, red onion, jalapeños, and a whole lotta fresh mango to top them all off!

This post is in partnership with Half Your Plate, whose mission is simple: encourage us to fill half our plates with fruit and vegetables!

These spicy shrimp quesadillas are proof that this doesn't have to be a challenging goal to meet, and that incorporating vegetables and fruit into your meals doesn't mean you have to eat a salad or carrot sticks (although I sure do LOVE me some salads!).

This month Half Your Plate has named mangoes as fruit of the month. Mangoes are packed with vitamin C and are completely fat free, and they add such a vibrant flavour to any dish they are used in.

To compliment the bright, sweet mango salsa, I cooked up the shrimp, bell peppers and onion in a Jamaican jerk inspired seasoning mix: allspice, thyme, paprika, brown sugar, etc. I added cayenne for some kick, but this can be omitted (see the recipe notes).

Altogether these spicy shrimp quesadillas are sweet, savoury, and a little bit spicy. Most importantly, they are perfect to kick those January blues to the curb!

Thank-you to Half Your Plate for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own.

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

Spicy Shrimp Quesadillas with Mango Salsa

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

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A fast and healthy dinner recipe that comes together in 30 minutes!  These spicy shrimp quesadillas are packed with fresh produce and tropical flavours!

4

Ingredients

Mango salsa:

• ▢ 2 mangoes diced
• ▢ 2 jalapeno seeds removed, diced
• ▢ juice of 1 lime

Seasoning:

• ▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon thyme
• ▢ 1 teaspoon allspice
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cayenne *see note

Quesadilla fillings:

• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 2 bell peppers thinly sliced
• ▢ ½ red onion thinly sliced
• ▢ ¾ lb 350g raw shrimp, thawed, tails removed
• ▢ juice of ½ lime

Other:

• ▢ spray oil
• ▢ 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
• ▢ 4 large tortillas
• ▢ sour cream or yogurt to serve

Instructions 

• Prepare mango salsa in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Quesadilla fillings: Mix up the seasoning in a small bowl and set aside.
• In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the bell peppers and onion to the pan and cook until softened, 5 or so minutes.
• While the veggies are cooking, prepare the shrimp (remove tails, devein etc). Toss in half of the seasoning mix.
• Add the shrimp to the pan and sprinkle with remaining seasoning. Toss to coat all veggies and shrimp evenly. Cook for another 3-5 minutes, or until shrimp are pink and cooked through.
• Squeeze the lime juice over the filling.
• Transfer shrimp/veggies to a plate, rinse the pan, spray with spray oil and return to the burner.
• Assemble the quesadillas: Add a large tortilla to the pan, then sprinkle with ¼ cup of cheese. Add ¼ of the shrimp/veggie filling, then add another ¼ cup of cheese on top. Fold the quesadilla over and weigh down with a pot lid or heavy plate.
• Cook for around 2 minutes, until golden brown, then flip. Cook for another minute before setting aside.
• Repeat with the other 3 tortillas.

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Tips:

For a kid-friendly version, leave the cayenne out!
For a mild spice, add ½ teaspoon cayenne.
For a spicier quesadilla, add more!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1quesadilla, Calories: 493kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 151mg, Sodium: 1018mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 33g

Author: Denise Bustard

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Jamaican

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