BACON AND HASH BROWN "QUESADILLA" WITH EGGS

Bacon and Hash Brown

I have always made my quesadillas by layering the ingredients with tortillas and baking them, rather than pan-frying. I find the resulting quesadilla to be far lighter, crisper, and suitable for overstuffing-such as here, with smoky bacon and crispy shreds of hash brown potatoes. Add a fried egg and a smattering of fresh tomato salsa, and you've got the best Mexican breakfast sandwich.

Provided by Bobby Flay

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

2 large russet potatoes (2 pounds), scrubbed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for brushing
2 large Spanish onions, halved and thinly sliced
1 poblano chile, roasted and finely diced
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
13 pound thick-cut bacon, diced
12 (6-inch) flour tortillas
2 12 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 large eggs
Fresh Tomato Salsa, recipe follows
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
2 ripe beefsteak tomatoes or 4 ripe plum tomatoes, diced
12 red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 jalapeno, finely diced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick saute pan over high heat, add the potatoes, and cook until golden brown. Stir in the onions, poblano, and 1 tablespoon of the ancho powder, season with salt and pepper, and cook until just warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crisp, about 8 minutes. Scoop out and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
Lay out 8 of the tortillas on a work surface. Divide the hash browns, bacon, and cheese among the tortillas. Stack half of the tortillas on top of the remaining topped ones to create 4 double stacks. Top each with one of the remaining 4 tortillas. Brush the tops with a little oil and sprinkle with the remaining 2 teaspoons ancho powder.
Transfer the quesadillas to a large baking sheet and bake until golden brown and the cheese has melted, 8 to 10 minutes.
When the quesadillas are nearly ready, melt the butter in a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Carefully crack the eggs into the pan, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 2 minutes.
Top each quesadilla with a fried egg, some of the tomato salsa, and a sprinkling of chives.
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving.