Kamil Perry
Panela cheese, also known as queso panela, is a popular fresh cheese that originates from Mexico. It is made from pasteurized cow's milk and has a soft and crumbly texture. The cheese's mild, slightly sweet flavour and versatility make it a popular choice for traditional Latin American recipes. It holds its shape when heated, making it ideal for frying, grilling, baking, and stuffing pastries. Panela can be sliced, crumbled, grated, or melted and added to a variety of dishes, including salads, sandwiches, omelettes, and baked goods.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela |
| Texture | Soft, crumbly |
| Taste | Mild, slightly sweet, tangy |
| Type of milk | Cow's milk |
| Fat content | Low-fat |
| Use cases | Salads, sandwiches, omelets, soups, appetizers, baked goods, stuffing pastries, grilling, frying, baking |
| Health benefits | Good source of calcium, protein, and vitamin B12, suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals |
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What You'll Learn
Panela cheese is used in Mexican dishes
Panela cheese, also known as queso panela, is a popular fresh cheese that is an integral part of Mexican cuisine. It is made from pasteurized cow's milk and has a soft, crumbly texture with a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Panela cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of Mexican dishes, both savoury and sweet. Here are some common ways it is used in Mexican cuisine:
Sliced or Crumbled
Queso panela can be sliced and added to Mexican sandwiches like cemitas or tortas. It can also be crumbled over salads, tacos, or enchiladas, adding a creamy texture and a mild tangy flavour. Its soft and crumbly nature makes it a perfect topping for many Mexican dishes.
Fried or Grilled
Panela cheese holds its shape well when heated, making it ideal for frying or grilling. Thick slices of queso panela can be fried in olive oil and served with lime juice and cilantro as a simple appetizer. It can also be grilled and added to salads or used as a substitute for halloumi. Its ability to maintain its shape when heated makes it a versatile ingredient for various Mexican dishes.
Baked
Baked panela cheese is another delicious option. When baked, the cheese softens without completely melting, creating a spreadable consistency. It can be served with tortilla chips, crackers, or rustic bread. Baked panela cheese adds a gooey, melted texture to dishes and is often used as a topping or filling.
Toppings and Fillings
Queso panela can be grated or crumbled as a topping for soups, salads, or Mexican dishes like pozole. It can also be used as a filling in pastries, empanadas, or arepas, adding a rich and creamy element. Its mild flavour and crumbly texture make it a versatile topping or filling for numerous Mexican creations.
Snacks and Appetizers
Panela cheese is often enjoyed as a snack or appetizer. It can be served by itself, fried or baked, with a drizzle of honey or dulce de leche. It is also used in creative appetizers, such as stuffing mushrooms with chorizo and cream cheese or coating the cheese with oil and spices before baking. Queso panela adds a creamy and tangy flavour to snacks and appetizers, making it a popular choice in Mexican cuisine.
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It's a popular choice for Latin American recipes
Panela cheese, also known as queso panela, is a popular choice for Latin American recipes due to its versatility and mild flavour. It is a staple in countries like Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico, where it holds cultural significance.
The cheese is known for its soft, crumbly texture and slightly sweet taste, making it a versatile ingredient for both savoury and sweet dishes. Its mildness and ability to hold its shape when heated make it an excellent choice for a variety of cooking methods and culinary creations.
In Latin American cuisine, panela cheese is commonly used in dishes such as arepas, empanadas, and pandebonos. It is also a key ingredient in Mexican dishes like enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, and cemitas. The cheese can be sliced, crumbled, grilled, fried, or baked, adding a rich and creamy element to any dish.
One unique characteristic of panela cheese is its suitability for individuals with lactose intolerance. The cheese-making process removes most of the lactose, making it a nutritious and delicious option for those who typically cannot consume dairy.
Panela cheese's versatility extends beyond Latin American cuisine. It can be used as a substitute for other cheeses, such as halloumi, in salads, sandwiches, and omelets. Its mild flavour and crumbly texture make it a versatile ingredient that can be adapted to a variety of cultural dishes.
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Can be used as a substitute for haloumi
Queso panela is a Mexican cheese with a firm texture that can be used as a substitute for halloumi. It is made from pasteurized cow's milk and has a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Its ability to hold its shape when heated makes it ideal for grilling, frying, and baking.
When used in place of halloumi, panela cheese can be cut into cubes or long sticks and pan-fried. It can also be crumbled like feta or halloumi and added to salads, tacos, or sandwiches. Its mild flavour means you may want to add a touch of salt to match the taste of halloumi better.
Panela cheese is a versatile ingredient used in Latin American cuisine, especially in countries like Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico. It is a good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin B12, and is lower in fat and calories compared to some other cheeses. It is also a suitable option for those who are lactose intolerant, as most of the lactose is removed during the cheese-making process.
Overall, panela cheese is a suitable substitute for halloumi due to its firm texture, mild flavour, and ability to hold its shape when heated. It can be used in a variety of dishes and adds a rich and creamy element to any culinary creation.
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Panela is a good source of calcium and protein
Panela, also known as queso panela, is a popular fresh cheese that originates from Mexico. It is made from pasteurized cow's milk and has a soft, crumbly texture and a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Panela is a versatile ingredient used in a variety of dishes, both savoury and sweet, and can be grilled, fried, baked, or crumbled.
Panela is not just a cheese but a part of the cultural heritage of countries like Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico. Besides its delicious taste, panela is also nutritious. It is a good source of calcium and protein, as well as vitamin B12. This makes it a healthy addition to a balanced diet when consumed in moderation.
In a 1-ounce (28g) serving of panela, there are approximately 80 calories. This serving size contains around 6 grams of protein, which is about 15% of the recommended daily intake. It also provides a good amount of calcium, which is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth.
The versatility of panela extends beyond its culinary applications. Its high protein and calcium content make it a nutritious option for those seeking a tasty way to incorporate more of these essential nutrients into their diets. For those watching their calorie intake, panela is a suitable choice as it is lower in fat and calories compared to some other cheeses.
However, it is important to note that panela cheese is high in sodium, so individuals with high blood pressure or related conditions should consume it in moderation. Overall, panela is a delicious and nutritious cheese that can enhance the flavour of many dishes while also providing some important health benefits.
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It's a versatile ingredient for sweet and savoury dishes
Queso panela, or simply panela cheese, is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of sweet and savoury dishes. This fresh, white cheese, made from pasteurised cow's milk, has a soft and crumbly texture and a mild, slightly tangy flavour. Its versatility stems from its ability to hold its shape when heated, making it ideal for grilling, frying, baking or stuffing into pastries.
When grilled or fried, panela cheese can be used as a topping for salads, sandwiches, soups or omelettes. It can also be crumbled over any breakfast egg-based dish, from huevos rancheros and chilaquiles to your favourite scramble or omelette. For a simple appetizer, serve fried panela with lime juice and cilantro.
Baked panela cheese softens and becomes spreadable, making it perfect for tortilla chips or crackers. It can also be used as a topping for baked goods, adding a gooey, melted texture. In Colombia, panela is often enjoyed as a snack with a drizzle of honey or dulce de leche.
In Mexico, panela is commonly used in dishes such as enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, and cemitas or tortas (Mexican sandwiches). It can be sliced or crumbled and added to tacos or corn tortillas. For a quick and easy lunch, it can be sliced and served alongside rice and beans.
With its mild flavour, panela cheese is an excellent choice for adding to salads. It can be crumbled over dishes, grated as a topping, or melted into sauces. The cheese's versatility extends to its use as a substitute for other cheeses, such as halloumi, in recipes.
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Frequently asked questions
Panela cheese is a popular choice for traditional Latin American recipes. In countries like Colombia and Venezuela, it is used in dishes such as arepas, empanadas, and pandebonos.
Queso panela is a versatile Mexican cheese that can be crumbled on top of a salad or enjoyed by itself, either fried or baked. It is also used in Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, tacos, or quesadillas.
Panela cheese is a good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin B12. It is lower in fat and calories compared to some other cheeses, but it is high in sodium, so individuals with high blood pressure should consume it in moderation.
Panela cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, both savory and sweet. It can be sliced, fried, baked, crumbled, grated, or melted. It can be used as a topping for soups, stuffed into mushrooms, coated with oil and spices and baked, layered in lasagna, grilled and tossed over a mango salsa, or paired with watermelon and dressed with lemon juice and chili-lime salt for a refreshing summer salad.
