Hot Dog Bun Cheese Melt Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S HOT DOG BUNS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
• Place yeast into bowl of a large stand mixer; whisk 1/2 cup flour and water into yeast until mixture is smooth. Let stand until mixture is foamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Whisk egg, 3 tablespoons melted butter, sugar, and salt into yeast mixture; add remaining flour and stir.
• Fit a dough hook onto stand mixer and knead the dough on low speed until soft and sticky, 5 to 6 minutes. Scrape sides if needed. Poke and prod the dough with a silicone spatula; if large amounts of dough stick to the spatula, add a little more flour.
• Transfer dough onto a floured work surface; dough will be sticky and elastic but not stick to your fingers. Form the dough lightly into a smooth, round shape, gently tucking loose ends underneath.
• Wipe out stand mixer bowl, drizzle olive oil into the bowl, and turn dough over in the bowl several times to coat surface thinly with oil. Cover bowl with aluminum foil. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Transfer dough to a floured work surface and form into a 5x10-inch rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Cut dough into 8 equal lengths. Turn each slice cut-side up and form into a hot dog bun shape about 5 inches long. Transfer dough, cut-sides up, to the prepared baking sheet about set them about 1/4-inch apart.
• Cut a slit about 1/8-inch deep down the center of each bun. Brush 2 tablespoons melted butter over the top and sides of each bun. Let rise until almost doubled in size and the buns have risen into each other, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake buns in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Brush tops with remaining melted butter.

HOT DOG BUN CHEESE MELT

Steps:

• Preheat a gas grill, griddle, or grill pan on high heat. Place the hot dog on the grill and keep a watchful eye on it, rolling it so that it rotates every 30 to 45 seconds. Remove once the hot dog is cooked all the way through.
• On the same hot grill, place the open hot dog bun inside-down on the grill until golden brown before flipping. Place slices of American cheese on the inside of the bun (which is now face-up); slice the grilled hot dog and place pieces on top of the cheese. Carefully close the bun, which contains both the cheese and sliced hot dog. Using a large spatula or spoon, press entire sandwich down so that it flattens and the cheese begins to melt. After a minute or two, flip over sandwich and repeat on the other side. Once both sides of the bun are toasted and the cheese is viscous, remove the melt from the grill.
• Serves 1.

HOT DOG BUN CHEESE MELT

Steps:

• For the hot dog: Preheat a gas grill, griddle, or grill pan on high heat. Place the hot dog on the grill and keep a watchful eye on it, rolling it so that it rotates every 30 to 45 seconds. Remove once the hot dog is cooked all the way through.
• For the melt:On the same hot grill, place the open hot dog bun inside-down on the grill until golden brown before flipping. Place slices of American cheese on the inside of the bun (which is now face-up); slice the grilled hot dog and place pieces on top of the cheese. Carefully close the bun, which contains both the cheese and sliced hot dog. Using a large spatula or spoon, press entire sandwich down so that it flattens and the cheese begins to melt. After a minute or two, flip over sandwich and repeat on the other side. Once both sides of the bun are toasted and the cheese is viscous, remove the melt from the grill.