Queso fresco also known as fresh cheese is a Mexican type of cheese that is made using cow milk or a combination of cow and goat milk. It has a salty-sour taste and unlike most types of cheeses, it does not melt when exposed to heat. Below is a list of some of the best ways to use queso fresco.
Use queso fresco when making a salad
Instead of adding feta cheese to your salad, simply crumble your queso fresco and add it as a topping to your salad. Queso fresco really pairs well with other ingredients like mint and watermelon so you can consider adding them to your salad.
Use queso fresco as a filling
NB: this filling pairs well with burritos and quesadillas.
This is also another great way of using queso fresco cheese. In order to use it as a filling, you first need to grate or crumble the queso fresco on top of the burritos or quesadillas. The next step is to heat up your burrito or quesadillas, this causes the queso fresco cheese to melt a little bit, which means it will become soft. Once the queso fresco is soft, it means that you can enjoy your burrito or quesadilla.
Use queso fresco when making a dip
NB: this method is easy because you can use a microwave to melt queso fresco.
When making a queso fresco dip all you need to do is to cut the queso fresco cheese into small pieces and then place it into a microwave-safe bowl. The next step is to add salsa to the queso fresco, this will help to enhance the flavor of the queso fresco dip. Cover the bowl with a wet paper towel or cloth. This will help to ensure that heat does not escape from the bowl. Set the microwave to medium heat and melt queso fresco for 2 minutes until it has a smooth consistency. When the dip is ready you can serve it with chips or any vegetables of your choice.
Use queso fresco when making a sauce
NB: this method requires you to use evaporated milk.
This is also another best way of using queso fresco cheese. In order to turn the queso fresco cheese into a sauce, you need to start by cutting the queso fresco into small pieces and then placing it into a bowl. The next step is to take a non-stick pan and place it on a stovetop that is switched on to medium heat. The non-stick pan will help to prevent the queso fresco from sticking to the bottom of the pan. The next step is to pour the evaporated milk into the pan and wait for it to reach the simmering stage. Once the evaporated milk starts simmering, add the queso fresco to the evaporated milk and stir slowly until all the cheese has been incorporated into the evaporated milk. Make sure that you scrap the bottom of the pan to ensure that nothing burns down there. It can take about 10 to 20 minutes to melt queso fresco so you need to be patient. Once the Queso fresco has thickened up you can then remove it from the stove and serve it with any Mexican dish of your choice.
Use queso fresco when making scrambled eggs
Queso fresco can be added to scrambled eggs. It will help to add a salty kick to the eggs. All you have to do is to cook your scrambled eggs the usual way, before taking them out of the pot add your queso fresco cheese and let it melt for about 10 to 20 seconds before serving.
Use queso fresco as a garnish for soup
Queso fresco can be used as a garnish for soups, all you need to do is to crumble it and then add it to the soup before you serve it. Some of the popular soups that really pair well with queso fresco include black bean soup, gazpacho, and tortilla soup. So if you are a fanatic of any of these soups then don’t hesitate to add a little bit of queso fresco just to give your soup that salty-sour kick.
Use queso fresco on corn
This is also another great way of using queso fresco cheese. All you need to do is to crumble the queso fresco and place it on a plate. The next step is to spread butter on top of your corn and then dip it into the crumbled queso fresco cheese. Add salt and a squeeze of lime or lemon juice. You will definitely enjoy how well these flavors pair together.
How to make queso fresco at home
Ingredients
1 gallon of milk, 2/3 cup of lemon juice or vinegar, and sea salt or kosher salt.
Step 1
Start by pouring the gallon of milk into a heavy pot that is placed on a stove that is turned on to medium heat. Once the milk reaches a temperature of 165-185F quickly turn off the heat and add the vinegar or lemon juice. Stir continuously until the curds separate from the whey,
Step 2
Once the curd has separated from the whey, leave it at room temperature until it has cooled down, this can take approximately 10 to 20 minutes.
Step 3
Take a cheesecloth and then place it on top of a colander. Drain the whey from the curd, the process might take you about 20 minutes so you need to be patient.
Step 4
Once most of the whey has been removed you can then add your salt just to add more flavor to the queso fresco cheese.
Step 5
Cover the cheese with the cheesecloth and then weigh it down using a plate. This will help to get rid of any excess moisture and make the cheese firmer. You can do this process for a minimum of 15 minutes but if you want a firmer cheese then you can leave it for several hours. Once the queso fresco cheese is ready you can then place it in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Queso fresco cheese can be used in a variety of ways as noted above. It is important to note that queso fresco should always be stored in the refrigerator as this will help to preserve its shelf life.
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