Tank Cooks Pretzel Bites and Cheese Sauce
Thanks, Kala Felsh, for the recipe
Send recipe ideas to NJTank99@gmail.com.
The football season is here.
Pretzels
Ingredients
- 13.8 oz. Package pizza dough
- 6–8 cups water
- 1/3 cup baking soda
- 1 egg, beaten
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- coarse Kosher salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Fill a large pot with water, ensuring the water line is about 3-4 inches below the edge of the pot. This will prevent it from overflowing when you add the baking soda.
- While you’re waiting for the water to come to a boil, unroll the pizza dough.
- Cut the rectangle of pizza dough lengthwise into 4 equal-sized strips.
- Pinch the cut sides of the dough together and gently roll each strip into a rope.
- Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces.
- When the water comes to a boil, slowly pour baking soda.
- Add pizza dough squares in 2-3 batches to the boiling water, cooking the dough for 30-60 seconds.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove boiled dough from the pot and put it on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Continue with the remaining dough.
- Transfer dough bites to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Brush each bite with egg wash.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until pretzels are dark golden brown.
- Brush pretzel bites with butter and sprinkle with Kosher salt.
- Serve with cheese sauce or honey mustard, and enjoy!
Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 2 cups (480ml) whole milk
- 8ouncesVelveeta
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt + pepper to taste
Directions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the top, stirring constantly until a thick paste forms, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Slowly add the milk to the flour/butter paste in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Continue cooking, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. It should be thick but still pourable.
- Add Velvetta and shredded cheese, whisking constantly until melted.
- Add the hot sauce and cayenne. Taste, then add salt and pepper to taste. If preferred, add more cayenne and/or hot sauce.
- The sauce will thicken upon cooling.
- Leftovers can be stored covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Heat over the stovetop or in the microwave before serving again.