Queso Fundido Mark Bittman Food

QUESO FUNDIDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cook the chorizo in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it renders, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, serrano and garlic and continue cooking until the chorizo is crisp and the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the mixture from the skillet and transfer to a bowl. Toss the cheeses with the flour in a separate bowl.
• Add the beer to the skillet, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Whisking constantly, add the cheese mixture a little bit at a time, whisking until smooth and well blended. Stir in the beans, chiles and chorizo mixture.
• Place the skillet in the oven and cook until the queso is hot and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Garnish with scallions and tomato and serve with tortilla chips.

QUESO FUNDIDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a 9-inch cast-iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook, crumbling it as you go, until browned and cooked through.
• Remove the chorizo from the skillet and drain it on paper towels (chorizo is very greasy!). Pour off any excess fat from the skillet.
• Without cleaning the skillet, add the onion and bell peppers.
• Cook the veggies over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until they brown and soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the tequila, if using. Turn the heat back on to medium-high and cook until the vegetables are golden brown and the liquor has reduced, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set them aside. Turn off the heat.
• Mix the cheeses together, then cover the bottom of a medium ovenproof skillet with one-third of the cheese mixture . . .
• Add one-third of the vegetables . . .
• And one-third of the chorizo.
• Continue with two more layers, ending with chorizo. Sprinkle the top with chili powder.
• Bake until the cheese is totally melted, hot, and slightly bubbling around the edges, 4 to 5 minutes. Watch it constantly, as you don't want the cheese to get overly melted and hard. But you want it to be sizzling!
• Top with the tomatoes, a sprinkle of kosher salt, and the cilantro.
• Serve immediately with tortilla chips . . .
• Or carrot sticks and cauliflower florets if you want to avoid chips!

QUESO FUNDIDO WITH CHORIZO, JALAPEñO AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook, stirring, until browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, mix the jalapeño, cilantro, scallions and salt. Add the cheese and toss well.
• If serving as dip, skip to Step 4. If serving as sandwiches: drizzle slices of bread with oil and brown in a toaster oven. Top with chorizo, then the cheese mixture. Return to toaster oven and toast until bubbling.
• If serving as dip: heat the broiler. Combine the chorizo and cheese mixture and pour into a shallow baking or gratin dish. Broil until melted and bubbling, about 4 to 5 minutes. Serve with the chips and lime wedges on the side.

QUESO FUNDIDO

Steps:

• In a medium skillet or a flame-proof gratin dish over moderate-high heat, cook chorizo until golden, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving any rendered fat in pan.
• Stir in olive oil and jalapeño. Cook for 1 minute. Add cheese, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring constantly, until cheese is fully melted, about 3 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and chorizo and serve hot from pan with tortillas for scooping up mixture.

QUESO FUNDIDO (MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°; roast chile in a dry skillet over medium heat (or over an open flame), turning to brown on all sides; cool it, then peel, seed, stem, and chop.
• Liberally butter a 9-inch gratin dish or similar baking dish and put it in the oven.
• Meanwhile, add the oil to a large skillet; turn heat to med-high.
• Add in onion; cook/stir occasionally, until translucent, 3-5 minutes.
• Add in the chile and chorizo; cook/stir occasionally, until the choirzo is cooked through, about 5 minutes; drain oil from pan.
• Layer the cheese across the bottom of the heated gratin dish and sprinkle the chorizo mixture on top.
• Bake until the cheese melts, about 10 minutes.
• Scoop the hot melted cheese and chorizo into warm tortillas and serve.

MUSSELS WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• Put the olive oil in a large pot that can later be covered, and turn the heat to medium. Cook the onion and chorizo, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• Put the mussels in the pot; cover and cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until mussels open, about 10 minutes. If they have not generated enough broth for you, add the wine and cook, uncovered, another 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

QUESO FUNDIDO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F and lightly spritz an oven-safe bowl or dish with cooking spray (Pam).
• Cover the bottom of prepared dishl with salsa.
• Add half the Velveeta cubes, then the sausage on top, then 1/2 cup salsa, then the rest of the Velveeta cubes on top of that, then sprinkle with the jack cheese.
• Bake in oven for 20 minutes until bubbly.
• Remove and sprinkle with the green onions.
• Serve with tortilla chips.