Queso Food

QUESO FONDUE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Rub the poblano and jalapeno chiles with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan and roast, turning a few times, until golden brown and blistered all over, about 15 minutes for the jalapeno and 25 minutes for the poblanos. Remove to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let steam for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and seeds and dice or slice.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat, then add the flour and whisk until smooth and the raw flour taste has cooked out, about 2 minutes.
• Slowly whisk in the hot milk, then bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and the chile de arbol.
• Reduce the heat to low and begin adding the cheese a handful at a time, whisking until smooth. Taste for seasoning and fold in some of the diced chiles. Pour into a fondue pot.
• Mix the remaining diced chiles with the Pickled Red Onions and cilantro and top the queso with the mixture. Serve with tortilla chips, tortillas or radishes.
• Saute the onions in 1 tablespoon oil in a saute pan over medium-low heat until soft.
• Meanwhile, place the vinegar, sugar, peppercorns, thyme sprigs and 1/4 cup oil in a noncorrosive saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the onions to the hot liquid and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the onions to steep for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight. (If steeping overnight, transfer to a bowl and cover.) When ready to serve, drain the liquid and top with chopped thyme.

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

Steps:

• Add the processed cheese, Monterey Jack, Cheddar and canned tomatoes (along with the juice) to a medium saucepan or 10-inch cast-iron skillet (see Cook's Note) and turn the heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until all the cheese has melted and the queso is smooth, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.
• To make the queso spicy, use hot diced tomatoes and green chiles, such as RoTel Hot, instead of the Original.
• Processed block cheese is crucial due to its meltability and what it adds to the queso's texture. Do not try to substitute other cheeses.

QUESO DIP

Steps:

• Put the cilantro, onions and pickled jalapeno if using on a cutting board, and chop them into a rough mixture.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, and stir until it is absorbed. Pour in the beer and milk; whisk constantly until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the Monterey Jack until completely melted and smooth.
• Transfer the queso dip to a warmed serving dish, a fondue pot or a small slow cooker set to warm or low. Sprinkle the cilantro mixture on top, and sprinkle with a little chipotle powder if using. Serve with tortilla chips.

QUESO BLANCO DIP

Steps:

• Simmer all on the stove in a saucepan until smooth.

QUESO CON GOUDA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium size pan, saute the shallots and garlic until soft, stir in the chili peppers.
• Add the milk starting with 3/4 cup and adding the additional 1/2 cup as needed for proper consistency; add tomatoes, cayenne pepper, and cheese.
• Heat over low heat until cheese melts; season as desired with salt and pepper.
• Serve warm with tortilla chips, hamburger patty, hamburger steak or chicken.

QUESO CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Whisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute.
• Whisk in milk gradually until incorporated.
• Gradually stir in cheese until melted.
• Season with cumin, salt and pepper to taste.

VEGAN QUESO

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients first in a small saucepan.
• Add water.
• Whisk CONSTANTLY over medium heat until mixture is well incorporated. (If you don't constantly whisk it, the sauce will become lumpy!).
• Add margarine and Rotel and mix for about another minute or so.

QUESO

Steps:

• Roughly chop the processed cheese into 1-inch cubes, then add to a medium saucepan. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, plus 2/3 cup water, then heat over medium-low, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted and mixture is creamy, 5 to 7 minutes. You can stop here, and serve immediately with chips, or proceed to Step 2, if you're feeling extra.
• Stir in any combination of desired additions: black beans, scallions, cilantro, garlic, cumin, red-pepper flakes, oregano, and lime zest and juice. Heat over low, stirring occasionally, until warmed and flavors meld, about 5 minutes. If you like some extra heat, stir in chipotle chiles en adobo. Season to taste with salt, and additional red-pepper flakes, if desired, and serve immediately. (You could also keep your queso in a slow-cooker on a low setting, stirring occasionally, to keep it molten.) Mixture will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

CHEF JOHN'S QUESO DIP

Steps:

• Grate Cheddar cheese into a bowl. Sprinkle in cornstarch and toss to coat.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and light parts of the scallions. Sprinkle in salt, chipotle, and cumin. Cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add green chiles and 1/2 cup tomatoes; cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Pour in evaporated milk and bring to a boil. Add the Cheddar cheese and stir just until melted; immediately remove from heat.
• Stir in cilantro. Season to taste, adding cayenne if desired. Garnish with reserved green onion parts and 1 tablespoon diced tomato.

QUESO DIP

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Thoroughly stir in the cornstarch. Stir in the sour cream. When the mixture becomes hot and bubbly, mix in Cheddar cheese and salsa. Continue stirring until cheese has melted and mixture begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Serve hot.