The cheese you need for perfect restaurant-style queso

Queso is a lactose lover’s ultimate, making it irresistible to order every time you go to a Latin restaurant. But who says you can’t enjoy restaurant quality from the comfort of your own home? And no, we’re not talking about bringing home leftovers – because there’s never any leftover queso – we mean making your own queso at home. The key ingredient to a restaurant-like experience? White cheddar cheese.

We’ve all seen the cheap boxed queso at the grocery store that looks like seasoned cheese, so skip it and opt for a block of white cheddar instead. White cheddar is commonly used in restaurants as the base for thick, creamy queso blanco, like in Chipotle’s new queso blanco recipe. Because of its naturally tangy taste and the way it mixes easily with other cheeses and takes on the flavors of other added ingredients, white cheddar is the perfect candidate for your queso. White cheddar is also one of the easiest and most affordable cheeses to find, meaning you can make queso at home whenever your heart and stomach desire.

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Why use white cheddar cheese?

White cheddar is the perfect ingredient for making queso blanco, which literally translates to white cheese. White cheddar contains less fat than orange cheddar or American cheese, making it easier to melt while retaining its strong flavor. It’s a naturally tangier cheese that has a rich, gooey texture when melted with a little milk over low heat to make it a little less dense and easier to dip without becoming too runny. Note that when buying your white cheddar, any brand will do, but it’s best to buy it in blocks or cubes rather than slices for even melting.

White cheese is always a great choice, as white cheddar pairs well with spices and other ingredients. The slightly tangy flavor complements aromatics like chopped onions and garlic, as well as a hint of heat from the green chiles you can add to your cheese to round out the recipe. And of course, don’t skimp on the salt and pepper, but you can also add seasoning by mixing pepper jack cheese into your cheddar to boost the flavor and enhance the cheese’s flavor. You can also use similar ingredients to make queso fundido, a slightly different take on classic queso.

Ways to Serve Your White Cheddar Queso

White cheddar queso is the perfect addition to your restaurant-style meal and will likely make your guests feel like they’re dining out rather than eating at home. This delicious dip is perfectly edible in a bowl surrounded by tortilla chips, but why stop there? If you want to keep your queso as an appetizer, try offering fresh, crunchy vegetables like celery or bell peppers to serve as a base for such a creamy dip. You can also double up on the cheese and have ready-made cheese and meat nachos that you can dip into warm queso.

White cheddar cheese is also creamy enough to make a great sauce in your main dish. Pour a rich layer of cheese on your homemade street tacos that will cover your ingredients, or use it as a binder for your potatoes in a spicy version of chili queso gratin.

If you have leftover queso, try using it as a substitute in your mac and cheese, giving the dish a Latin twist with a very flavorful cheese sauce. White cheddar will perfectly complement your noodles, and queso is an easy addition that will flavor every spoonful. You can also use it as a substitute for a slice of cheese on a chicken sandwich or burger, creating a gooey layer of queso blanco that covers all the ingredients.

Read the original article on The Daily Meal.