Greek Style Flamin Cheese Dog Recipes

FLAMING GREEK CHEESE (SAGANAKI)

Steps:

• Brush each side of the kasseri cheese with water. Dredge both sides in flour, making sure the surface is completely covered.
• Preheat a well seasoned cast iron skillet on medium-high heat until smoking. Pour in olive oil. Carefully place the floured cheese in the hot oil. Cook until cheese begins to ooze and a golden brown crust forms, about 2 minutes. Quickly flip cheese over with a spatula. Fry until bottom is golden brown, about 30 seconds more.
• Remove skillet from heat and transfer onto a napkin-lined plate. Pour brandy over the cheese. Light the brandy using a fireplace lighter. Now you can exclaim "Opa!" and marvel at the fire. Squeeze some lemon juice on top to extinguish the last few flames and garnish with parsley.

GREEK-STYLE FLAMIN' CHEESE DOG

Steps:

• Slice the block of cheese in half lengthwise and then each half again in half to form 4 equal planks. Place the sliced cheese in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes so it gets nice and cold.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear all sides of the hot dogs until crisp and golden, about 10 minutes.
• While the hot dogs are cooking, heat the oil in another medium cast-iron or stainless steel pan over medium-high heat. Dredge the cold cheese slices in the flour. If the flour doesn't stick to the cheese, you can sprinkle it first with a little water and then dredge in the flour. Shake off excess flour and gently place in the skillet. Sear the cheese, without moving, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully flip the cheese and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute. If the cheese starts to melt in the pan, it's ok. Remove the pan from the heat. While the cheese is still sizzling, pour the brandy on the cheese and ignite with a lighter for that Opah! moment. Let the brandy burn for about 10 seconds, then squeeze the fresh lemon over to extinguish.
• Smear some Feta-Mint Tzatziki in each steamed bun, then top with a hot dog. Remove the cheese from the pan with a spatula and place on the hot dogs. Then top with some fresh cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and Pickled Red Onions. Boom.
• Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater and place in a fine-meshed strainer or cheesecloth fitted over a bowl. Salt the cucumber and let sit 10 minutes. Then squeeze out any excess moisture. Add the strained cucumber into a bowl with the yogurt, feta, garlic and mint. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• Simmer the vinegar, water, sugar and salt until dissolved. Add in the onions, remove from the heat and let sit until it cools to room temperature. Transfer to a jar or resealable container and let sit overnight in the fridge.

DEPRESSION DOG

Steps:

• Grill, steam or boil the hot dogs, and then place them in the buns. Top each with 1 tablespoon relish, 1/2 tablespoon white onion, 3 sport peppers and some yellow mustard.

FLAMING CHEESE (GREEK SAGANAKI)

Steps:

• 1 Season both sides of cheese with salt and pepper. Place cheese in shallow dish and cover with brandy. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• 2 Season flour with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• 3 Remove cheese from dish, reserve 1/4 c brandy. Dredge cheese in seasoned flour coating completely.
• 4 In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt butter.
• 5 Pan fry cheese 2 minutes per side. Add reserved brandy and carefully flame the brandy, shaking pan back and forth several times.
• 6 Add lemon juice.
• 7 Remove cheese from pan and serve with pita bread and olives.

THIRD DOWN CONVERSION DOG

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Slice the hot dogs lengthwise to butterfly them, making sure not to slice all the way through. Place the hot dogs cut-side down on the grill and cook until nice and charred to your liking, 4 to 5 minutes per side. (I like a good heavy char for that extra texture and flavor.)
• Meanwhile, fill a large pot with a lid with about an inch of water, then place a steamer basket or vegetable steamer inside, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then add the pretzel hot dog buns and steam, covered, until soft and warmed through, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat but keep covered.
• Nestle the dogs into the steamed pretzel buns and ladle on plenty of the Beer Cheese Sauce. Top with the sliced pickled jalapenos, fried onions and giardiniera or cherry pepper slices.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the evaporated milk, lager, mustard and Worcestershire and whisk together until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the cheeses and cornstarch until the cheese is completely coated. Add the cheese mixture to the beer mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until the cheese melts completely and the sauce is thickened, silky and smooth, 5 to 10 minutes. Keep warm.

SAGANAKI: FLAMING CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice the cheese into 1/2" thick triangles or 3-4" squares (depending on the style you buy).
• Place brandy into a zip-lock baggie and add cheese portions, seal and let marinate for 2 hours).
• Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over a med/high heat. Remove cheese portions from marinade, reserving marinade for later use.
• Dredge cheese thru the flour, shaking off excess.
• Fry the cheese slices approx 2 minutes, flip with spatula and fry an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat when nicely seared on each side and gooey.
• Now here is where you need to heed a caution -- Carefully carry the cast iron skillet to the dinner table. Pour 1 ounce of the brandy marinade over the top of the fried cheese, and immediately set ablaze with a lighter. (Be sure to yell "Opa". Immediately squeeze a lemon slice over the top to dowse the flames.
• Serve with warmed pita slices and additional lemon wedges. Enjoy!