Frederic Melton
Tacos are a popular dish in Mexico and around the world. In the United States, tacos are often associated with Mexican cuisine, but there are some key differences between the two. One of the most notable differences is the use of cheese. While tacos in the US are often topped with shredded orange cheese, authentic Mexican tacos typically do not include cheese. Instead, they are served with a variety of fresh garnishes and sauces that enhance the flavor of the dish. However, some sources suggest that traditional Mexican dishes occasionally included cheese, and certain types of cheese are more commonly used in Mexican cuisine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese in Mexican tacos | Queso fresco, queso Oaxaca, cotija, manchego, and queso blanco are some of the commonly used cheeses in Mexican cuisine. |
| Cheese is not always included in Mexican tacos. | |
| Street tacos in Mexico are not served with cheese. | |
| Mexican tacos do not use shredded cheese as a topping. | |
| Mexican tacos use cheese sparingly so that it does not mask the flavors of other ingredients. |
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What You'll Learn
Authentic Mexican tacos do not include cheese
Tacos are a well-loved dish, with Americans consuming an estimated 4.5 billion tacos every year. However, the taco most people are familiar with is not the authentic Mexican taco. The taco has been reinvented worldwide, and the Americanized versions of Mexican food often include cheese. Authentic Mexican tacos, however, do not include cheese.
Tacos were initially made as a low-cost meal for workers and are traditionally sold as street food. They are made with soft tortillas and a few ingredients. Toppings are usually minimal and typically include raw onion, cilantro, radish, cucumber, avocado, and chili peppers. The key ingredient that makes Mexican cuisine unique is the use of corn, from traditional corn tortillas to steamed tamales wrapped in corn husks.
If there is cheese on an authentic Mexican taco, it is likely to be a fresh white cheese such as queso fresco, queso Oaxaca, or cotija. These cheeses are used sparingly as a garnish or filling to enhance the other flavors in the taco. They are crumbly, salty, and mild in flavor and do not melt when heated. However, they are not commonly used, and street tacos often don't have any cheese at all.
The cheese-laden taco is more likely to be a Tex-Mex taco, an American take on the Mexican original. Tex-Mex tacos often include shredded orange cheese such as cheddar or Monterey Jack, which is considered sacrilege in the theology of the taco.
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Tex-Mex tacos include cheese
While traditional Mexican tacos do sometimes include cheese, Tex-Mex tacos are more likely to be topped with a blanket of shredded cheese. Tex-Mex is the Americanised version of Mexican food, and it is very common in the United States.
Tex-Mex tacos often feature cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, which is orange and yellow in colour. Authentic Mexican tacos, on the other hand, are more likely to use queso fresco or queso Oaxaca, both of which are white cheeses. If a Mexican taco does include cheese, it will be used sparingly so as not to overwhelm the other ingredients.
Queso fresco is a popular Hispanic-style cheese that does not melt when heated. It has a fine, grain-like texture and a mild, fresh milk flavour. It is often crumbled over salads, stirred into salsas, or sprinkled on top of warm meats and side dishes. It is commonly used as a garnish on tacos or tamales, adding a salty, nutty flavour.
Queso Oaxaca is a white cheese that melts easily and has a stringy form, similar to mozzarella. It is the cheese that you will find in authentic quesadillas.
Another cheese used in Mexican cuisine is cotija, a white, salty cheese similar to feta. It does not melt and keeps its shape when cooked. It is often used on vegetarian tacos, as it holds its shape.
In the United States, Mexican food is often thought of as being crunchy tacos, burritos, nachos, and anything smothered in melted cheese. However, this is far from authentic Mexican cuisine. Authentic Mexican tacos are typically soft tortillas with a few ingredients and minimal toppings.
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Mexican cheeses used in tacos
While Mexican tacos traditionally do not include cheese, some varieties do feature it. For example, cheese tacos are available for vegetarians, and cheese can also be added to tacos with meat fillings.
When used in tacos, Mexican cheeses are typically fresh white cheeses like queso fresco, cotija, and panela. Cotija is a popular variety of Mexican cheese, featuring in several recipes such as tacos, enchiladas, beans, salads, and soups. It is a white, crumbly, salty cheese with a similar flavour and texture to feta. Importantly, cotija does not melt, allowing it to retain its shape when cooked. This makes it a suitable cheese for tacos, as it can be sprinkled on top without melting and altering the texture of the taco.
Queso fresco is another fresh Mexican cheese used in tacos. It is a mild, creamy, and slightly crumbly cheese with a moist texture. Queso fresco is a versatile cheese that can be crumbled or melted, making it suitable for various dishes.
Other Mexican cheeses that can be used in tacos include Oaxaca, a creamy cheese with a similar flavour profile to Monterey Jack, and manchego, a firm and compact cheese with a nutty flavour.
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History of cheese in Mexican food
The history of cheese in Mexican food is relatively recent, dating back to the Spanish conquest when dairy animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats were introduced to the region. Before that, dairy products were not a part of the Mexican diet. However, the indigenous people quickly embraced cheese-making and incorporated it into their traditional dishes, blending European and indigenous techniques to create a variety of Mexican cheeses.
Cheese production in Mexico has evolved over the years, with most cheeses being made with raw (unpasteurized) milk, leading to concerns about food-borne illnesses. In recent times, there has been a push for better sanitary control of cheese production, and some cheeses, like Cotija, are now made with pasteurized milk.
While cheese is now considered an integral part of Mexican cuisine, it is notable that authentic Mexican tacos traditionally do not include shredded cheese as a topping. Tacos were originally created as a low-cost meal for workers, and true to their roots, authentic tacos typically have minimal toppings, such as raw onion, cilantro, radish, cucumber, and chili peppers. If cheese is included, it is usually a fresh white cheese like cotija, added in small amounts to enhance the other flavors.
In contrast, Americanized tacos often feature shredded cheese, such as cheddar, which has become a beloved staple in the United States. This variation, known as Tex-Mex, has led to the widespread association of cheese with tacos, even though it diverges from the traditional Mexican preparation.
Today, Mexican cuisine boasts a range of cheeses, with some purely Mexican inventions such as Oaxaca, Cotija, Chihuahua, and Manchego. While Mexican food may not have included cheese from the beginning, it has become an inseparable part of the country's culinary culture.
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Substitutes for Mexican cheeses
While Mexican tacos traditionally do not include shredded cheese, there are several Mexican cheeses that can be used as fillings or toppings. These include queso panela, queso blanco, queso fresco, cotija, and queso menonita. If you are unable to find these cheeses, or are looking for something different, there are several substitutes that can be used in their place.
Queso panela, also known as queso de canasta, is a derivative of Greek basket cheese and is similar to Indian paneer. It can be substituted with queso blanco, which is a soft, meltable cheese made with rennet or lime juice. For those who are unable to find queso blanco, its production method makes it interchangeable with queso fresco.
Queso fresco is a mild soft cheese that can be crumbled over Mexican dishes. It is made with rennet, but home producers may use acids like lime or vinegar instead. It is similar to ricotta and can be substituted with Romano or aged queso fresco, known as queso añejo.
Cotija is a type of queso fresco that is more flavoursome and salty. It is often compared to feta, parmesan, or goat cheese, and can be substituted with these cheeses. It is a hard, dry cheese that can be grated finely.
Queso menonita, also known as queso chihuahua, is a pale yellow cheese that can vary in taste from mild to sharp. It is similar to mild cheddar or jack cheese, which can be used as substitutes.
Other Mexican cheeses include queso edam, queso manchego, and queso asadero. While these cheeses are not as well-known as the others, they can be substituted with more common cheeses. For example, queso edam can be replaced with seasoned meat picadillo, queso manchego can be substituted with Monterrey Jack, and queso asadero can be replaced with mozzarella or string cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
While cheese is sometimes used in Mexican cuisine, it is not a common topping for tacos. Authentic Mexican tacos usually have minimal toppings, such as raw onion, cilantro, radish, cucumber, avocado, and chilli peppers.
If cheese is used, it is typically a fresh white cheese such as queso fresco, queso Oaxaca, or cotija. These cheeses are used sparingly as a garnish or filling, rather than melted or shredded.
Tacos originated as a low-cost meal for workers, so they traditionally have only a few ingredients. Cheese is not necessary to enhance the flavours of an authentic Mexican taco.
Common toppings include lime, pico de gallo, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs such as cilantro. Mexican crema, a type of heavy cream, is also used instead of sour cream.
American-style or Tex-Mex tacos often use shredded or melted cheeses such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend. These cheeses are typically orange or yellow in colour.
