Patrick Oconnell
There are many types of Mexican melting cheese, including Asadero, Queso Oaxaca, Queso Chihuahua, and Queso Fresco. To make an authentic Mexican Queso Dip, you can use Cacique Asadero Cheese, which is an excellent melting cheese with a creamy-smooth, velvety texture. To make the dip, heat the cheese with milk and butter on low heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning. You can add chopped green chillies, diced tomatoes, and cilantro to enhance the flavour. Serve the dip with tortilla chips, tortillas, or your favourite Mexican dish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Asadero, Quesadilla, Oaxaca, Queso Fresco, Panela, Manchego, Cheddar, Chihuahua, Mozzarella, Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, American |
| Other Ingredients | Milk, Butter, Green Chillies, Cumin, Garlic, Cayenne Pepper, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Chicken Stock, Beer, Cream, Onion, Jalapenos |
| Method | Heat cheese with other ingredients on low heat on a stove top. Stir frequently to prevent sticking or burning. |
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What You'll Learn
Using a stove top
To make authentic Mexican Queso Dip, you should use a soft Mexican melting cheese like queso quesadilla, Chihuahua, or Oaxaca. Cacique, a popular Mexican cheese maker, suggests using queso quesadilla cheese, which originated in Northwestern Mexico. Chihuahua cheese, which originated in the state of Chihuahua in North Central Mexico, and Oaxaca, which is native to the southern state of Oaxaca, are also good options. All three of these cheeses are semi-soft, melt extremely smoothly, and have a mild flavour. You can find these cheeses at Hispanic markets or Walmart.
To melt white Mexican cheese on a stove top, place a 12-inch cast-iron skillet on a grill or stove top over medium heat. Add milk, butter, and seasonings like cumin, garlic salt, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Stir frequently to prevent the cheese from sticking or burning. If you want a thinner dip, add more milk. If the dip is too thin, continue heating on low until the sauce thickens.
Once the cheese is melted, stir in chopped green chillies, jalapenos, diced tomatoes, minced garlic cloves, and cilantro. If you want to adjust the heat, add chilli peppers or cayenne pepper. For an extra kick, add some salsa, canned diced green chillies, or Rotel tomatoes.
Serve the dip immediately with tortilla chips, tortillas, or your favourite Mexican dish.
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Using an oven
To make authentic Mexican Queso Dip, you'll need to use a soft Mexican melting cheese like queso quesadilla, chihuahua, or Oaxaca. These cheeses are semi-soft, melt very smoothly, and have a mild flavor. You can also use Cacique Asadero Cheese, Queso Fresco Cheese, or White American Cheese.
To heat white Mexican melting cheese in an oven, start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). While the oven is preheating, prepare your cheese sauce on a stovetop. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the cheese with milk, butter, and/or half-and-half, stirring until the cheese is fully melted. You can also add in spices like cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. If the sauce becomes too thick, add more milk to thin it out.
Once your cheese sauce is ready, remove it from the heat and transfer it to an oven-safe dish. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce is heated through and bubbly. Keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking or burning.
For an extra touch of flavor and color, you can broil the queso for the last 3-4 minutes of baking. This will give it a slightly browned, crispy top. After broiling, sprinkle chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, and/or more jalapenos on top, if desired. Serve the queso dip hot with tortilla chips or use it as a sauce for your favorite Mexican dishes like enchiladas, tacos, or nachos.
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Cheese types and alternatives
Queso blanco, or "white cheese" in Spanish, is a popular Mexican cheese used in dips and sauces. It is often made with a combination of different cheeses and other ingredients to create a smooth, spicy, and flavourful dip.
There are many types of cheese that can be used to make queso blanco, and the choice of cheese depends on the desired flavour and texture. Here are some popular options:
- Queso Fresco: This is a fresh, whole milk cheese that is soft, moist, and crumbly, similar to feta cheese. It is often used in queso blanco due to its salty and milky taste, which helps to balance the spice in dishes. Queso fresco does not melt completely, giving it a chunky consistency that is ideal for stuffed dishes like chile rellenos or quesadillas. It is also commonly used to top off soups, tacos, and salads.
- Queso Oaxaca: Also known as quesillo in Oaxaca, this cheese has a mild, earthy, and buttery flavour with a stringy texture similar to mozzarella. It melts easily, making it a popular choice for fillings and dips. It is often used in quesadillas, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas.
- Queso Asadero: Asadero cheese is known for its excellent melting properties and creamy-smooth, velvety texture. It has a mild and subtly tangy flavour, making it an ideal base for queso dip and a popular choice for nachos, burritos, tacos, and enchiladas.
- Queso Chihuahua: Also known as Queso Menonita, this cheese originated in the state of Chihuahua. It is aged, firm, and yellow, similar to cheddar cheese. Chihuahua cheese is often used in combination with other cheeses like Monterey Jack and Asadero to create a richer, more complex flavour profile.
- Queso Panela: Panela is a soft, white cheese made from skim milk, which gives it a firm and flexible texture. It does not melt when heated, making it a unique option for those who enjoy fried cheese. It has a salty and slightly tangy flavour and is often used as a snack or topping.
- Queso Manchego: Manchego is a popular Mexican cheese that is similar to the Spanish cheese of the same name but is typically made with cow's milk instead of goat's milk. It has a sharp, tangy flavour and melts well, making it suitable for quesadillas, crackers, or sandwiches.
- Queso Requesón: Requesón is the Mexican version of ricotta cheese, made with whey instead of curds. It has a mild flavour and a texture similar to cottage cheese. It is often used as a filling for enchiladas, empanadas, and gorditas.
- American Cheese: While not authentically Mexican, American cheese is commonly used in queso blanco due to its mild flavour and melting properties. It blends well with other cheeses like Monterey Jack, Chihuahua, and Mozzarella.
These cheeses can be used individually or in combination to create the desired flavour and texture for queso blanco. Other ingredients, such as milk, butter, chillies, cumin, and garlic salt, are also typically added to enhance the flavour and consistency of the dip.
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Adding spices and herbs
To make an authentic Mexican queso dip, you can use a variety of Mexican cheeses, including Asadero, Queso Quesadilla, Oaxaca, and Queso Fresco. The type of cheese you use will depend on the flavour and texture you are aiming for. For example, Asadero has a creamy-smooth, velvety texture and is an excellent melting cheese, whereas Panela is a hard, salty variety that does not melt and is often fried.
When it comes to adding spices and herbs, the most common additions are green chillies, cumin, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper. You can adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your taste preferences and spice tolerance. If you like your dip to be on the spicier side, you can add more cayenne or stir in some diced jalapeños. Alternatively, you can substitute the cayenne pepper with chilli powder. Other spices and herbs you can add include chopped green chillies, diced tomatoes, cilantro, garlic powder, and onion powder. You can also add taco seasoning, which is an optional ingredient that many chefs swear by to add a touch of spice to your blend.
If you want to add some meat to your queso dip, you can include chorizo, as mentioned in one review.
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Dishes to serve with
White Mexican melting cheese, or queso blanco, is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas for dishes to serve with white Mexican melting cheese:
Appetizers and Dips
Queso blanco is commonly used as a dip for tortilla chips, or as a drizzle over tacos, taco bowls, and nachos. It can also be served as a classic appetizer, paired with other dips like guacamole, salsa, and 7-layer taco dip.
Main Courses
White Mexican melting cheese can be used as a topping or mix-in for various Mexican dishes. Try it on carne asada tacos, enchiladas, burritos, or quesadillas. It also goes well with roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or broccoli. For a more indulgent option, drizzle the melted cheese over ground beef street tacos.
Sides
This cheese can enhance the flavour of sides such as Mexican Street Corn (Elote), layered bean dip, or classic Mexican rice dishes.
Drinks
For a festive touch, offer margaritas alongside your queso blanco.
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Frequently asked questions
Asadero cheese is a popular choice for Mexican melting cheese, as it has a creamy-smooth, velvety texture. Queso Oaxaca, a stringy, mozzarella-like cheese, is also a good option as it melts very easily.
To make a Mexican white cheese dip, you will need cheese, milk, and butter. For the cheese, you can use a combination of shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and white American cheese. You can also add in some green chillies, cumin, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper for extra flavour.
Place the cheese, milk, and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Heat the mixture until melted, stirring frequently to prevent sticking or burning. If the dip is too thick, add more milk, and if it's too thin, continue heating on low until it reaches your desired consistency.
Mexican melting cheese can be served as a dip with tortilla chips, tortillas, or soft pretzel bites. It can also be drizzled over tacos, carne asada tacos, taco bowls, or roasted vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
