When we think about cheese, what comes to your mind? For most of us, it’s probably cheddar, mozzarella, or parmesan. But apart from the most common ones, there are few delicious Mexican cheeses, we don’t tend to think about.
Most Mexican cheeses are made from cow’s milk, but there are some varieties made with goat’s milk too. What makes Mexican cheese different from others is that they’re all fresh, handmade with a short life span and creamy taste, which makes it hard to get Mexican cheese around the world.
It is one of the major ingredients that takes Mexican food from great to excellent. It’s one of the reasons why Mexican food is famous all around the world.
Even in Australia Mexican food like tortillas, tacos, burritos and quasedillashave become quite popular in local markets and restaurants. But one thing that’s still lacking here is good quality Mexican cheese.Delicious quesoOaxaca melting in a quesadilla, flauta with sprinkled queso fresco and queso panela in Mexican salad; these authentic Mexican cheese are challenging to find in Australia.
Don’t worry! We’ve tested many cheeses that are available in Australia and found the closest match to the cheeses back home in Mexico. Pure Dairy’s Mexican Cheese Blend offers a unique four cheese blend that provides an authentic Mexican taste.
It’s a cheese blend that includes Natural Cheddar, Asadero, Queso Quesadilla, and Monterey Jack. These cheeses are grinded up and mixed in very particular portions so that the cheese melts or mixes perfectly with any ingredient used to prepare an authentic Mexican dish. All four-cheeses play their role in making the shred blend shine
If you find the Mexican cheese near your store, here are some of the most popular Mexican cheese that you should purchase for authentic Mexican flavor.
Oaxaca cheese
Oaxaca cheese is the most common and quintessentially Mexican cheese. It’s a white, semi-hard cheese that is similar to unaged Monterey Jack with string texture like mozzarella. It can be easily separated with a finger.
It is made with cow’s raw milk curds and wrapped into a ball shape. This cheese is slightly salty and has a mild to sweet flavor. As it melts quickly, it is commonly found in Mexican dishes like enchiladas and quesadillas. It’s also used in non-Mexican dishes like pizzas and other cheese-topped dishes.
Queso Asadero cheese
Queso Asadero and is a semi-soft pale yellow Mexican cheese. It has a smooth, creamy flavor with a slightly chewy texture. This cheese melts so quickly that it can be used as a replacement for other melting cheeses too.
It is mostly used inchilesrellenos, queso fondue and also served alone as a ‘botana’ (snack).
Queso Fresco:
Queso fresco is also known as “The farmer-style cheese,”refers to fresh cheese. It’s a traditional Mexican cheese made from cow’s milk or combination of cow and goat milk.
It’s a mild fresh cheese that is creamy and has a salty-sour tang. It’s used to balance heavier dishes like enchiladas, garnish chilled soup or highlight grilled vegetables.
Cotija:
Cotija isa Mexican version of parmesan. Cotija doesn’t melt easily due to which it’s used to garnish the dishes. The most popular use of this cheese is on “Mexican grilled corn.”There is also an aged version of this cheese known as añejo.
It’s an amazing topping for dishes like salads, tacos, burrito, and even pasta.
