Pepperoni Queso Recipes

BASIC PEPPERONI PIZZA AND FOUR CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• For the pizza dough: Sprinkle the active dry yeast over 1 1/2 cups of warm--not lukewarm--water.
• In a mixer with a paddle attachment, combine the flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, drizzle in the olive oil and mix until combined. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until combined.
• Coat a separate mixing bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil and tip the dough in. Form a ball and toss to coat the dough ball in the olive oil. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 or 4 days refrigerated.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• To prepare the dough for the pizza assembly: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Roll out one part as thinly as possible and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the second piece of dough.
• For the basic pepperoni pizza: Spread the sauce over the pizza base. Top with the sliced mozzarella and pepperoni.
• For the four cheese pizza: Drizzle on the olive oil and sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Pour the jar of pesto onto the dough and spread evenly. Add the mozzarella, fontina, goat cheese and Pecorino Romano.
• Bake both pizzas until the crusts are golden and the cheese is bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the tomato basil salad: While the pizzas are baking, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a small skillet. Add the garlic and stir, lightly frying for about a minute and removing it from the heat before the garlic gets too brown (it can be golden). Pour it into a mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly. Add the tomatoes, balsamic, basil and some salt and pepper to the bowl. Toss to combine, and then taste and add more basil if needed, and more salt if needed. Set aside.
• Top the four cheese pizza with the tomato basil salad. Cut the pizzas into slices and serve.
• Add a tablespoon or so of olive oil into a hot pan over medium-high heat. Throw in the garlic and chopped onions and give them a stir. Cook until the onions are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, whisking to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Cook until the liquid reduces by half. Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of sugar. Add the dried oregano and basil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

PEPPERONI PIZZA QUESO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes and green chiles and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and stir in the processed cheese until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Cheddar, mozzarella, fontina and Parmesan until melted. If it is too thick, add room temperature milk to thin it out; if milk is needed, add it slowly, stirring in between additions to make sure you achieve the desired consistency.
• Stir in the oregano, most of the jalapeno (saving a pinch or two for garnish), 3/4 cup of the pepperoni and half of the tomatoes.
• Transfer the queso to a serving dish. Garnish with the remaining pepperoni, jalapenos, and tomatoes, as well as the basil leaves. Serve with pizza-flavored chips.

EASY QUESO DIP

Steps:

• Stovetop method: Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and place a bowl inside the pot to create a double boiler. (The bowl should be big enough to rest above the rim of the pot without the bottom touching the water.) Add both cheeses, the half-and-half, garlic, jalapeño, and ground black pepper, then stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the dip is creamy. Stir in the green chilies.
• Slow cooker method: Combine both cheeses, the half-and-half, garlic, jalapeño, and ground black pepper in the base of a slow cooker, and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 50 minutes, stirring once half-way through. Stir in the green chilies. Transfer to a serving bowl or reduce the temperature of the slow cooker to warm and keep covered until ready to serve.
• Top with diced tomatoes, cilantro, and sliced jalapeño. Serve immediately.

THE NEW QUESO

Steps:

• To roast the Anaheim chiles and jalapenos: Roast the chiles by using metal tongs to hold them one-by-one over the flame of your stovetop until the skin is totally charred. (If you don't have a gas stove, you can use an outdoor grill OR place them on a baking sheet directly under your oven's broiler.) When totally blackened, place the chiles in a large resealable plastic bag and seal the bag to allow them to sweat for a good 20 minutes. Then use a knife to scrape off most of the blackened skin. Stem, seed and dice the chiles.
• In large pot over medium heat, add the bacon and chorizo. Cook until the fat has been rendered out, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the garlic and onion to a food processor and pulse until almost a paste.
• Drain off most of the fat from the bacon and chorizo, then add the garlic-onion puree to the pot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour the diced tomatoes and green chiles into the food processor and pulse slightly. Add to the pot, juice and all. Fold in the reserved diced chiles. Cook for 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in both cheeses and the evaporated milk. Cook for an additional 5 minutes to heat through, making sure to not scorch the bottom of the pot. Garnish with the chopped cilantro and eat from the pot with tortilla chips.