Piquillo Peppers Stuffed With Chorizo And Manchego Recipes

PIQUILLO PEPPERS STUFFED WITH CHORIZO AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan set over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and chorizo. Cook until well browned, 7 to 8 minutes, breaking up the chorizo with the back of a wooden spoon as it cooks. Add the garlic, carrots, celery, shallots, salt, pepper and chile flakes, and saute until the onions become translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large mixing bowl to cool slightly. Add half of the Manchego, the breadcrumbs, half of the parsley and the cream cheese. Stir well to mix everything evenly. Using a medium spoon, carefully stuff each of the piquillo peppers with the filling. Arrange the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining Manchego. Bake in the center of the oven until the cheese melts and is slightly bubbly around the edges, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a platter and garnish with the remaining chopped parsley to serve.

CHORIZO AND MANCHEGO PUFFS

Steps:

• For the puffs: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the water, butter, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir until the butter melts. Stir in all the flour at once and stir with a wooden spoon. Stir and cook until a dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the pan, 2 to 3 minutes. The mixture will be in a tight ball and not stick to the sides or bottom of the pan.
• Remove from the heat and transfer the dough to the bowl of a standing mixer and let cool for 3 or 4 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, making sure the first egg is completely incorporated before continuing. Once all the eggs have been added and the mixture is smooth, turn off the mixer and remove the bowl.
• Spoon half the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a round tip. Don't fill the bag completely. Twist the top of the bag so that the dough will not leak out. (To pipe out the dough, gently squeeze out the amount you want, then release.)
• On a sheet tray lined with parchment paper, squeeze out 1-inch size dough balls, about 2 inches apart. Form more balls on another sheet pan, if needed.
• Place in the oven and bake until they're golden and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
• For the filling: In a food processor, pulse the chorizo until finely chopped, but not a paste. No large chunks. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the mascarpone, manchego, pimenton, and chives. Stir until well combined. Taste and add salt, if needed.
• Place the filling in another pastry bag outfitted with a small straight tip. Poke a hole in the side of each puff with the pastry bag tip and gently fill each puff with the filling and serve.

STUFFED PIQUILLO PEPPERS

Steps:

• For the stuffed piquillo peppers: Pat the peppers with a paper towel to remove any excess brine. Trim the tops of the peppers.
• In a medium bowl, combine the goat cheese, manchego, chives, honey, lemon zest and juice, paprika, 2 tablespoons of the reserved piquillo brine and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and white pepper. Mix together with a rubber spatula until well combined and smooth.
• Put the mixture in a piping bag or a zip-close bag with a corner snipped off, and pipe it into the peppers, stopping 1/4 inch from the top. Refrigerate until 20 minutes before serving.
• For the herb vinaigrette: Bring the sherry vinegar, honey and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir a few times until the honey and salt have completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, add the golden raisins, and let cool completely, about 15 minutes. Stir in the chives, mint, parsley and 3 tablespoons of the reserved piquillo brine.
• To serve: Spread half of the vinaigrette over a serving plate and arrange the stuffed peppers on top. Spoon the remaining vinaigrette over the peppers. Garnish with the almonds and serve immediately.