Ingredients

• 2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 English cucumber, finely diced
• 1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 dried New Mexico or pasilla chiles, stemmed, seeded and deveined
• 1 tablespoon dried crumbled Mexican oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
• Two 6-ounce albacore tuna steaks, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 red onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 corn tortillas
• 2 cups shredded Oaxaca cheese, dry mozzarella or Monterey Jack

Instructions

1. For the salad: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, lime juice and olive oil. Mix to combine and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. For the tuna: Place the chiles, oregano, salt and pepper in a spice grinder or food processor and pulse into a coarse powder. Pour the rub into a glass baking dish. Add the tuna pieces into the chile rub and toss to coat. Set aside.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the red onions to the pan and cook until softened and slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the onions to a bowl and set aside. Into the same saute pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and add the tuna pieces. Cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Remove the tuna to a bowl and set aside.
4. To assemble the quesadillas: Drizzle the olive oil into the hot pan. Place a corn tortilla into the pan. Place 1/4 cup shredded cheese onto one half of the tortilla. Top with a spoonful of the tuna mixture and a couple slices of sauteed onion. Fold the bare half of the tortilla over, into a half-moon, and cook until the cheese melts and the tortilla forms a golden crust, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the quesadilla onto a serving plate. Top with a spoonful of the cabbage salad. Repeat with the remaining 7 tortillas.