Sabrina Blandon/The Hofstra Chronicle

While ramen and quesadillas are common meals for college students, sometimes they can get a bit boring. This recipe is the perfect way to upgrade your normal quesadilla by bringing some spices and flavors to such a simple dish. My family enjoys this dish so much, since it’s a simplified version of my family-favorite nachos.

Ingredients:

1 can refried beans (honestly, half a can works if it’s for fewer than five people)

1 avocado

1 pack corn tortillas (flour tortillas can also be used as a substitute)

1 bag sliced cheddar cheese (This can also be interchangeable depending on your cheese preference)

1 red onion (optional but adds more flavor)

1-2 tbsp. garlic powder (measurements for the spices are not exact, depends on preferences)

1-2 tbsp. coriander

1-2 tbsp. sage

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Prepare the fillings for the quesadilla. Cut the avocado into cubes, place in a bowl and mash until smooth.

Cut the red onion into cubes and add into the bowl with smashed avocado. Season with salt and pepper and mix.

Open the can of refried beans and place them into another bowl. Season with sage, coriander and garlic powder. Mix until evenly distributed.

Heat a pan with enough oil to fry.

Prepare the quesadillas by spreading enough bean mixture to cover the tortilla. Add the avocado mixture on top. Finally, place a slice of cheese on top of the prepped tortilla.

Repeat the process for the remaining tortillas.

Close the prepped tortilla and fry in the oil. Wait for the side to turn golden brown then flip and fry the other side.

Repeat the frying step for other prepared tortillas (I typically have this with sour cream and some chopped tomatoes to bring some freshness to it).