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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Pork Carnitas-Style Quesadillas with Avocado Sauce

Crisp, golden flour tortillas wrap cumin-and-orange spiced pork, melty cheddar and sweet charred onion, served with a tangy, creamy avocado-cilantro sauce.

Pork Carnitas-Style Quesadillas with Avocado Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 lb450 gPork tenderlointrimmed and cut into thin strips
  • 8 tortillas392 gFlour tortillas, 8-inch
  • 1 cup shredded110 gCheddar cheeseshredded
  • 1 medium110 gYellow onionthinly sliced
  • 1 medium119 gGreen bell pepperthinly sliced
  • ½ can, drained150 gPinto beans, canned, drainedlightly mashed
  • ¼ cup (60 ml)60 gOrange juice
  • 2 tsp4 gGround cumin
  • 1 tsp1 gDried oregano
  • 3 cloves9 gGarlicminced
  • 1½ tbsp20 gCanola oil
  • ¼ tsp2 gSalt
  • ½ tsp1 gBlack pepper
  • 1 cup diced150 gAvocadopitted and scooped
  • 3½ oz100 gPlain Greek yogurt, nonfat
  • 2 tbsp30 gLime juice
  • ⅔ cup chopped10 gFresh cilantrostems trimmed
  • 1 whole14 gJalapeñoseeded

Steps

  1. Make the avocado sauce first: in a bowl, mash the avocado with the Greek yogurt, lime juice, finely chopped cilantro and finely minced jalapeño until creamy; cover and chill.
  2. In a bowl, toss the pork with the cumin, oregano, garlic, half of the salt and the black pepper.
  3. Heat half of the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and green bell pepper and cook 5 to 6 minutes until softened and charred at the edges; move to a plate.
  4. Add the seasoned pork to the same skillet and sear 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, until browned and it reaches 145°F (63°C). Pour in the orange juice and let it bubble 1 minute to glaze the pork, then stir in the onion and pepper and the remaining half of the salt. Transfer to a bowl and wipe out the skillet.
  5. Lay out the flour tortillas. Spread the mashed pinto beans over half of each tortilla, top with the pork mixture, then the cheddar, and fold over.
  6. Brush the skillet with a quarter of the remaining canola oil and cook one or two quesadillas over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and the cheese melts. Repeat with the remaining quarters of oil and quesadillas.
  7. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with the avocado sauce.

Contains: Milk, Gluten.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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