Patrick Oconnell
There are many Mexican cheeses that can be used in tacos, including Cotija, Queso Asadero, Queso Oaxaca, and Requesón. Cotija is a crumbly, salty cheese that is commonly used in Mexican cuisine. It is a hard cow's milk cheese that does not melt, making it a good topping for tacos. Queso Asadero is a melting cheese with a mild flavor, while Queso Oaxaca is creamy and mildly flavored, making it ideal for stuffing quesadillas. Requesón is a Mexican ricotta with a texture similar to cottage cheese, and it can be used as a filling for gorditas and empanadas. Other Mexican cheeses that can be used in tacos include Queso Fresco, Chihuahua, and Manchego.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese Type | Cotija, Monterey Jack, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Asadero, Queso Fresco, Queso Añejo, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Manchego, Muenster, Vegan Cheese, Queso Quesadilla, Queso Menonita, Crema, Crema Blanca, Land O Lakes White American, Borden’s, Velveeta, Ro-Tel |
| Texture | Crumbly, Melty, Shredded, Mild, Creamy, Salty, Moist, Soft, Hard, Dry |
| Use Case | Topping, Garnish, Layer, Taco Shells |
| Other | Taco Seasoning, Pre-grated, Pre-shredded |
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What You'll Learn
Popular Mexican cheeses for tacos
While cheese is not a common ingredient in traditional Mexican tacos, it is often used in American-Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine. There are several types of Mexican cheese that are popular for use in tacos, either as a topping or melted into the tortilla.
Queso fresco, or "fresh cheese", is a soft, moist, and crumbly whole milk cheese that is perfect for sprinkling over tacos. It can be sold wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk and varies in saltiness. Queso blanco, or "white cheese", is a popular type of queso fresco that is made from cow's milk and melts easily.
Queso añejo, or "old cheese", is an aged version of queso fresco with a harder, drier texture. It is often sold pre-grated and crumbled on top of tacos and other Mexican dishes.
Cotija is another aged cheese that is named for the town of Cotija in the state of Michoacán. It is a salty, crumbly cheese that is often used as a topping for Tex-Mex style tacos. It resembles Parmesan in flavor and texture.
Queso asadero is a mild-flavoured melting cheese from the state of Chihuahua. It is similar to queso Oaxaca, which is another popular melting cheese that is often used in quesadillas and tacos. Both cheeses melt like mozzarella and are perfect for adding a creamy, cheesy element to tacos.
Other popular cheeses for tacos include Chihuahua cheese, Monterey Jack, Muenster, and vegan cheese alternatives.
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Vegan cheese options
While cheese is not a common ingredient in traditional Mexican tacos, it is often included in taco recipes in Mexican restaurants, particularly in Tex-Mex cuisine. For vegans, there are several cheese options that can be used to add a savoury, cheesy finish to tacos.
One option is to make your own vegan cheese sauce. There are several recipes available online, with some using only six ingredients and taking just 10 minutes to make. These recipes typically include ingredients such as nutritional yeast, cumin, and chili powder, and can be customised with additional herbs and spices. Another option is to make vegan cheese crumbles or shreds, which can be made from blanched slivered almonds, pickle juice, refined coconut oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and salt. These ingredients are combined in a food processor and then formed into small crumbles, which can be sprinkled on top of tacos.
There are also some store-bought options available for vegan cheese. Field Roast's Chao shreds, for example, offer a Mexican-style blend that may work well with tacos. Trader Joe's also offers vegan Mexican-style shreds that can be used in taco recipes. For those who prefer a cheese sauce, there are some local health food stores and specialty grocery stores that carry vegan cheese options.
When choosing or making vegan cheese for tacos, it is important to consider the desired texture and flavour profile. Some recipes create a smoother cheese sauce, while others result in crumbles or shreds that can be sprinkled on top. Additionally, the type of almond used, the amount of lemon juice, and the inclusion of herbs and spices can all be adjusted to create a more personalized flavour.
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Cheese blends
Mexican cuisine traditionally does not include cheese in taco recipes. However, Tex-Mex style tacos often include cheese, and there are several types of cheese blends that can be used to enhance the flavour of your tacos.
One option is to use a blend of several types of cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, queso quesadilla, and asadero. This blend can be shredded into thick ribbons that work well for nachos and quesadillas. Alternatively, you can use a blend of Monterey Jack, cheddar, asadero, and queso quesadilla, which comes in fine shreds that melt beautifully, even on a warm taco. This blend has a mild, salty tang.
If you're looking for a vegan option, Chao plant-based shreds offer a pleasant, vegetal flavour with a hint of peppery spice. These shreds can be a bit grainy when eaten cold, but they pair well with seasoned veggie crumbles in a crunchy corn shell for a memorable vegan taco experience.
For a sharper flavour, you can try Trader Joe's Mexican blend, which has a stronger cheddar flavour. Sargento's Mexican blend is also an option in this category, and both blends offer a nice balance of creaminess and tang.
In addition to these blends, you can also experiment with different types of Mexican cheese, such as queso fresco, queso añejo, cotija, queso asadero, queso Oaxaca, or queso menonita, depending on your preference for texture and flavour.
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Cheese for different taco styles
While cheese is not a common ingredient in traditional Mexican tacos, it is often used in American-Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine. The type of cheese used can vary depending on the style of taco and the desired level of authenticity. Here are some cheese options for different taco styles:
Traditional Mexican Tacos
For a more authentic Mexican experience, you can use a variety of white cheeses. Some options include:
- Queso fresco: This is a soft, moist, and crumbly whole milk cheese that can be sprinkled over tacos. It is often sold wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk. Queso blanco, a popular type of queso fresco made from cow's milk, melts easily.
- Queso añejo: An aged version of queso fresco with a harder, drier texture. It is often sold pre-grated and crumbled over tacos.
- Cotija: A salty, crumbly aged cheese named after the town of Cotija in Michoacán. It is commonly used in Tex-Mex style tacos.
- Queso asadero: A mild-flavoured melting cheese from the state of Chihuahua. It is similar to queso Oaxaca and can be melted on top of tacos or used in quesadillas.
- Queso Oaxaca: A cheese that melts like mozzarella and is commonly used in quesadillas and tacos.
American-Mexican or Tex-Mex Tacos
For a more Americanised take on tacos, you can use cheeses such as:
- Monterey Jack: A common choice for shredded cheese in American-Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants. It melts well and can be blended with other cheeses.
- Cheddar: Can be blended with other cheeses or used to create cheese taco shells.
- Mozzarella: Sometimes used as a substitute for the more expensive Jack cheese.
- Muenster: A soft cheese that needs to be shredded fresh and is not commonly found pre-shredded.
Vegan Tacos
For vegan taco options, you can use plant-based cheese shreds such as Chao's vegan shreds, which offer a pleasant vegetal flavour with a hint of peppery spice.
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Cheese preparation methods
While cheese is not a common ingredient in traditional Mexican tacos, it is often used in Tex-Mex cuisine. There are several ways to prepare cheese for tacos, including as a topping, a melty layer, or as a taco shell.
Topping
A crumbly cheese, such as queso fresco, queso añejo, or queso cotija, can be sprinkled on top of tacos as a garnish. Queso fresco is a soft, moist, and crumbly whole milk cheese that can be compared to feta or ricotta. Queso añejo is an aged version of queso fresco with a harder, drier texture, often sold pre-grated. Cotija is another aged cheese with a similar flavor and texture to feta.
A creamy cheese, like crema, can also be used as a topping. Crema is a naturally-sourced, thickened cream similar to American sour cream or French crème fraîche, adding a rich and tangy flavor to tacos.
Shredded cheese can also be used as a topping. Cheeses such as Chihuahua, manchego, Oaxaca, and Asadero can be shredded and used as a garnish on tacos.
Melty Layer
To create a melty layer, place a mild cheese that melts easily, such as queso asadero, queso de Oaxaca, or queso menonita, on top of a flour tortilla as it is grilling. Once the tortilla is crispy and the cheese has melted, add the meat and veggies, then fold it in half to create a crispy, cheesy taco.
Cheese Taco Shells
Cheese taco shells can be made by melting cheddar cheese on a baking sheet until it forms a disk, then shaping it into a hard taco shell. A Mexican cheese blend can also be used to make cheese taco shells.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several Mexican cheeses that are commonly used in tacos, including Cotija, Queso Fresco, Requesón, and Oaxaca.
Cotija is a hard cow's milk cheese from the town of Cotija in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. It has a strong, salty flavour and a crumbly texture similar to feta. It is commonly used as a topping for tacos, beans, salads, and other Mexican dishes.
Queso Fresco is a soft, moist, and crumbly Mexican cheese made from curdled milk. It is lightly salted and can be crumbled or sliced, making it perfect for sprinkling on top of tacos, beans, and salads.
Requesón is a soft and creamy Mexican cheese similar in texture to Italian whole-milk ricotta. It is made with whey instead of curds and is commonly used in dishes such as Crispy Ricotta-Kale Tacos.
Oaxaca cheese, also known as quesillo in Oaxaca, is a creamy and mildly flavoured Mexican cheese that melts easily. It is often shredded and used as a garnish on soups, tostadas, and beans, or as a stuffing for quesadillas and chiles rellenos.
