Pimento Cheese Stuffed Gougeres Recipes

PIMENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the cheddar, cream cheese, pimento peppers, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and jalapeño (if using), and several twists of black pepper.
• Beat the mixture together with a hand mixer, your stand mixer, or by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula. Beat until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
• Taste, and add more black pepper if desired, and/or salt for more overall flavor (I usually add a pinch of two). If you'd like your pimento cheese to have more of a kick, add another pinch of cayenne. Blend again.
• Transfer the mixture to a smaller serving bowl. Serve your pimento cheese immediately, or chill it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Pimento cheese hardens as it cools; let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature to soften.

SOUTHERN PIMENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, minced jalapeno, and pimento into the large bowl of a mixer. Beat at medium speed, with paddle if possible, until thoroughly combined. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

PARMESAN BACON GOUGèRES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425˚F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat until crisp but not too dark. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels, and reserve 1/4 cup of the rendered fat. When the bacon is cool, chop to make 1/2 cup.
• Bring the milk, 1/2 cup water, the butter, and the reserved bacon fat to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the salt, onion powder, sugar, and cayenne. Add the flour and, using a wooden spoon, stir very quickly in one direction. The flour will quickly absorb the liquid and form a dough. Continue stirring to cook the flour (and remove its "raw" taste) and simmer off more of the moisture until the dough pulls away from the sides of the saucepan, an additional minute or two.
• Transfer the dough to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on medium speed until each is incorporated into the dough, which will change from shiny to sticky as the eggs are worked in. On low speed, stir in 1 cup of the Parmesan and the bacon until just combined.
• Using a small ice cream scoop (about 2 inches in diameter), scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Top the gougères with an equal amount of the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

PIMENTO CHEESE STUFFED BURGERS

Steps:

• For the pimento cheese: Add the Cheddars, cream cheese, pimentos and mayo to a bowl and mix together. Add the chives, garlic powder, cayenne, smoked paprika and salt and pepper and mix until thoroughly combined.
• Place the cheese mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap and form into a log. Freeze for a few minutes or refrigerate up to overnight.
• For the sauce: Mix together the mayonnaise, hot sauce, Worcestershire, paprika and 1 tablespoon reserved pimento juice in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the burgers: Preheat a grill to medium heat.
• Mix the meats, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire, egg, salt and pepper together in a bowl with your hands until completely combined. Divide the meat into 8 portions and shape each into large thin patties. Slice four 1/2-inch slices off the pimento cheese log (reserve the rest for another use...snacking!). Place a pimento cheese slice on four of the patties and then top them with the remaining four patties, sealing the sides of the patties to enclose the cheese. (See Cook's Note.)
• Lightly oil the grill grates. Add the patties to the hot grill and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, about 4 minutes per side.
• Spread the sauce on the buttered buns. Top each with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and a patty and close the burgers. Eat with lots of napkins.

PIMENTO-CHEESE-STUFFED BURGER

Steps:

• For the pimento cheese: Combine the cream cheese, orange Cheddar, white Cheddar, mayonnaise, mustard, pimentos, cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon black pepper in a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer to a large rectangle of plastic wrap, spread out in a line and roll up in the plastic to form a 2-inch-diameter log. Twist the ends tightly and place the log seam-side down on a flat plate, folding the ends under to secure. Refrigerate until firm, 2 to 3 hours.
• For the garlic butter: Combine the butter, Roasted Garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Set aside.
• For the burgers: Form the ground beef into eight 3 1/2-ounce patties about 4 inches in diameter. Take the chilled pimento cheese log out of the refrigerator and slice it into 1/2-inch-wide disks. Place a pimento cheese disk on top of 1 of the patties and top it with another patty. Firmly crimp the edges of the 2 patties all the way around to make sure that it is sealed. Repeat with the remaining patties and cheese, reserving any remaining cheese for another use. Return the stuffed patties to the fridge to chill again for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat a grill pan or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat and lightly grease with the oil. Season the burgers with salt and cook on one side until charred and almost heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook in the oven until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Slather the cut sides of the brioche buns with some of the garlic butter. Toast the buns on both sides until golden brown and lightly charred around the edges, 30 to 45 seconds per side. Reserve the remaining garlic butter for another use.
• Toss the cabbage with the apple cider vinegar and a little salt in a large mixing bowl.
• Build the burgers from the bottom up: Place a layer of sliced sweet onion on the bottom buns. Top each with a stuffed burger. Top the burgers with the Fried Green Tomatoes and drizzle with some Scratch Ranch Dressing. Top the tomatoes with two pieces of crispy bacon. Top with a handful of dressed cabbage. Place the top buns on top and secure with a pick.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the tops off the whole heads of garlic to expose the garlic cloves. Place the heads on a large piece of aluminum foil and drizzle lightly with the oil and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Wrap the foil around the heads to form a tight pouch. Place the pouch in the oven and roast until soft and fragrant, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Squeeze the pulp from the skins.
• Cut the tomatoes into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Whisk together the flour, garlic powder, 2 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk together the eggs and buttermilk in another medium bowl. Place the cornmeal in a third medium bowl.
• Lightly dredge the tomato slices in the seasoned flour mixture. Dip into the egg mixture and then finally into the cornmeal. Place the coated tomatoes on a lined tray and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes to firm up.
• Pour enough canola oil into a medium pan to reach 2 to 3 inches deep. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches a temperature of 350 degrees F. Fry the tomatoes in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper-towel-lined plates, season with salt and keep warm.
• Combine the mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, dill, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 to 5 turns of black pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined and creamy in texture. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. The dressing will keep in the refrigerator 3 to 5 days.