If you live in the UK it will not have escaped your notice that it is #NationalChocolateWeek. Not that most of us need an excuse, especially considering that we in the UK collectively gorge on 660,900 tonnes of the stuff each year. No doubt this is small beans {cacao beans} compared to the US, what with it apparently snaffling almost half the world’s chocolate supply – at an astonishing rate of 100 pounds a second. That’s a helluva lot of KitKats…
I’m not quite sure why we need a whole week celebrating chocolate, but at least it is a nice distraction and has made social media less about navel-gazing and more about face-stuffing. My Facebook feed is currently one long scroll of chocolate-related links. The added bonus is that pictures of chocolate creations tend to be nicer to look at than those of green smoothies and kale what-not {guilty, m’lud}.
I’m not always one to get on a bandwagon, but even a blogger of healthy food can get onboard with chocolate. Otherwise I would be missing out on some seriously impressive heart-protecting and cancer fighting polyphenols {see my Chocolate and Beetroot Cake recipe for a run down on all the known benefits}.
And so, even with my tempered and tame sweet tooth, I enjoy the occasional chocolate treat. Whether in the form of a snapped off square of dark chocolate after dinner, a ‘neatened edge’ from a tin of Fudgy Aduki Bean Brownies made for work, a spoon of melt in the middle chocolate fondant proffered by a dining companion, chocolate is not off limits at food to glow. Granted we don’t often have bars of the stuff lying around for casual snacking{although sometimes a 2-for-1 Lindt or Green & Black’s falls into the shopping cart. Oops.}, but I do keep some cooking chocolate and a tin of cocoa powder for making healthier versions of popular chocolate recipes. But mostly I like to do my own thing. And today’s recipe sees me doing just that.
My Chocolate and Pear Quesadillas are more an idea than a recipe. Nothing needs to be exact. It’s not baking, after all. I came up with it as a sweet, fairly healthy treat for anyone off to uni – like my daughter – who wants a quick dessert, snack, or even breakfast – made with stuff they might already have or could easily get.
Normally when I am making something sweet I will have a couple of bites and that’s fine. I save the rest for the family. But the first time I made this I managed to scoff a whole quesadilla and call it breakfast. Very un-food to glow of me! I did make more later. And I did share. 🙂
I used Clearspring Fruit Puree for this recipe, but any fruit puree or pure fruit spread – like those from Sunwheel – will do just fine. Even sieved applesauce is good. As for the fruit, thinly sliced pear, apple, banana, pineapple or chopped plums or cherries would be fab – whatever goes with your spread. You can also make this in a hot pan rather than a George Foreman-type contraption.
I’ve got another easy chocolate recipe later this week for you. But funny thing is, I didn’t write down the measurements {true!} so will have to make another batch.
Ah, the life of a recipe developer. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
Chocolate and Pear Quesadillas
Use tortillas, chapati or even pitta bread to encase the fruity, chocolatey filling. But watch out – they’re hot! Please allow the quesadilla to cool a little bit before eating. If enjoying this for breakfast, perhaps add some protein by spreading on a little nut butter before the fruit spread. Or add a side of yogurt.
2 flour tortillas {the white-wholemeal, ’50-50′ ones are good here;}
4 tbsp fruit spread or puree {applesauce works if sieved of extra moisture, or use less}
1 small pear, thinly sliced
40g dark chocolate, finely chopped {use vegan chocolate if you like}
Cocoa powder, to serve – optional
1. Heat a non-stick pan/cast iron pan to medium-hot, or heat a George Foreman type of grill pan.
2. Spread 2 tbsp of fruit puree on each tortilla. Sprinkle over half of the chocolate. Lay half of the pear slices on one half {see image}. Fold over to enclose the filling, pressing a bit to seal the edges.
3. Place the crescent-shaped tortilla on your pan and heat until the chocolate melts, flipping halfway if using an open pan.
4. Cool slightly and cut in half to serve. Sprinkle with a little cocoa powder and extra fruit if you like.
A Few More Chocolate Recipes on Food To Glow:
Chocolate-Chestnut Truffle Cake
– see my Index or search bar {to the right} for more…
And Some Chocolate and Fruit/Vegetable Recipes From Others:
Courgette and Chocolate Brownies – The Botanical Baker
Dark Chocolate and Rhubarb Brownies – Utterly Scrummy
Pear and Chocolate Brownies – Ren Behan
I love you. That is all.
You are very sweet, Shannon. Loved this being my first comment on the post!
Ditto
What a lovely idea this is. Will try this recipe very soon!!
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Had to reblog this – National Chocolate Week in the UK – I am always in the wrong place at the wrong time… If like me it is only an occasional treat then this recipe is scrummy…. we use corn tortillas all the time but had never thought to make a dessert from the wheat ones… Also an entertaining post. Thanks Kellie enjoy your blog.
Never thought of using them to make something sweet, but why not? sounds delish!
This sounds sooo wonderful!
Reblogged this on First Night Design and commented:
I love chocolate and I love pears. Combine the two and I’m in seventh heaven.
I live in Greece and I had no idea it’s Chocolate Week. Not that I need an excuse. Perhaps we could make it last for a whole month?
Simple yet decadent! 😀
What an amazing idea Kellie. You’re right this could easily be breakfast too. Love chocolate and pears together and such a clever use for applesauce.
Thanks, Katie. Another meal for one idea too 😉
I’ve had sweets tucked inside tortillas but never thought to add fruit! Why not! I imagine I would eat an entire chocolate filled quesadilla too!
I’ve not visited your blog for what seems like such a long time but today when I do I see chocolate! Amazing, looks delicious 😀
It was fate then! Great to hear from you, Simon.
Reblogged this on Multi-Me and commented:
I love chocolate…and its chocolate week in the UK! So in honour of it, read this.
great idea! 🙂
This is my kind of dessert, how did you know?! 🙂
My mouth is watering! YUM!
One of my favorite chocolate quesadillas is Nutelle and banana! This sounds wonderful, can’t wait to try!
Kellie dearest, I celebrate chocolate all year round… but this gorgeous recipe gives me even more reason to celebrate!
Looks delicious!!
Wish we had chocolate week. Yum
You are killing me with this! This look AH MAY ZING!
How how beautiful! This sounds like a fantastic sweet indulgence for chocolate week (much better than simply scoffing an entire bar of Green & Blacks!) 🙂
Oh my goodness Kellie! These look totally delicious!
Pears and chocolate are so good together and I’m a fan of all Clearspring products too 🙂
Aww man these look amazing! I’ve never had quesedillas sweet or savoury…
We had a phase of eating quesadillas on Sunday nights but not done it for ages and we never had sweet ones. These look fantastic!
What a smart and easy way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Though I do admit to keeping snacking chocolate in the house (a private stash the husband is not privy to) a square or two a couple of nights a week will do the trick for me. Sometimes I want something more substantial, mostly on the weekends, and this quesadilla sounds like a lovely fix. Perhaps chocolate and one of those speckled bananas I’ve got on my kitchen counter?
OOoh i’d not thought of making sweet quesadillas… the boys would love these… i’d have to use milk chocolate and bananas/strawbs to get them to eat them though! I tried grating dark chocolate into their porridge the other day and they hated it!
Yuuuummmm! This sounds so good – I adore chocolate and pears together!
Chocolate and pears is such a great combination. But it has to be seriously dark chocolate for me to get excited… and like you, I’m satisfied with a small bite. Never thought of a sweet quesadilla
Oooh – chocolate quesadillas! Now there’s a concept! Love the combo of pear and chocolate as well…
I used to work in s job where we had to take our students to lunch every day, in the same local restaurant so I had their savoury quesadilla nearly every day. Never thought of sweet ones but love idea.
Can’t miss with chocolate and Mexican 🙂
No indeed. I even thought I might pop a little chilli in but I restrained myself. That might have tipped a few readers over the edge.
I picked up a big jar of Korean red pepper powder the other day and plan on sprinkling it on just about everything. I reckon this recipe would be a good place to start 🙂
I chuckled a bit when I saw this because I went through a phase recently of eating banana, dark choc and cardamom toasties for breakfast and your recipe is just much classier and crisp; the use of fruit purée is appealing for the ease and juiciness too! X
Oh. My God! I am so making this!
I admit I’m a bit of a quesadila purist. HOWEVER I have this idea to create a Mexican equivalent of “afternoon tea” and these are totally inspiring me. how would they be with clotted cream? 😉
I am in love with chocolate week already !
Reblogged this on Fit Gurl Go.
I absolutely love this idea! Since I am not in the UK, i had no idea that there was such a thing as chocolate week, and even though it may be over now, i may just celebrate it this week! As a university student this seems like a great quick treat! Thanks for sharing!
It’s a great post. And it’s a wonderful idea. I like your recipe. I will try to make it. Thanks for sharing.