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Queso fresco

 
Queso fresco
queso fresco
photo credit: gourmetsleuth

What is Queso fresco?

[Keh-so Fres-co]Translates to "fresh cheese". With its crumbly texture and slightly acidic flavor it can be crumbled atop beans, salads or even rice dishes. Queso Fresco is probably the most common Mexican cheese found in Mexico as well as the U.S In some regional areas of Mexico the cheese curds are still ground on a metate then hand pressed into round molds. Sadly, most the versions in the U.S. are not made of whole milk so they tend not to melt very well.  In Mexico the cheese is used to stuff chiles or for quesadillas. One of the best available in the U.S. is from the Mozzarella Company in Texas

Find in Mexican markets and some very well-stocked grocery stores.

Substitute for Queso fresco

The best substitute for queso fresco is:

  • Use equal amounts of young Italian ricotta salata cheese
  • OR - You could use a mild feta cheese but ricotta salata is better.

metric conversions →

Mexican Cheeses
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Nutrition Information For Queso fresco

Serving Size
1 cup, diced
 
Calories
470
Calories from Fat
333
 
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g
60%
Saturated Fat 24g
40%
Cholesterol 139mg
50%
Sodium 865mg
40%
Potassium
114g
0%
Total Carbohydrate 4g
0%
Dietary Fiber 0g
0%
Sugars 4g
Protein 30g
60%
 
Vitamin A  0% • Vitamin C  0%
Calcium  0% • Iron  0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Favorite Queso fresco Recipes

  • Pupusas
    Pupusas filled with ground turkey, chiles, garlic, onion, tomatoes and cheese.
  • Firkin Lobster Tacos
    Firkin brings elegance to tacos.  Succulent lobster is mixed with chives and butter then lightly sauteed.  The mixture is combined with chipotle mayonnaise, queso fresco and pico de gallo.  OMG!
  • Enfrijoladas (Tortillas in Bean Sauce)
    Enfrijoladas are common in Oaxaca and are served for the Mexican equivalent of brunch.  They are corn tortillas dipped in bean sauce and folded into fours.
  • Enchiladas Zacatecas
    These Enchiladas Zacatecas are spicy enchiladas with a potato and chorizo filling. The sauce uses ancho chiles, onion and dried, grated avocado pit. This is an authentic Mexican recipe.
  • Chilaca Chile Snack (Botana de Chilacas)
    Chilaca chiles are mild dark green chiles. In this recipe the chiles are charred then sliced into thin strips then blended with the rest of the ingredients and left to sit for 30 minutes. This can be eaten as snack or as a side dish to chicken or fish. No cooking required!

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