Creamy similar Jack cheese and stringy like mozzarella, Queso Oaxaca is an integral slice of the Mexican cheese puzzle. Besides known as Quesillo, this delightful cow's milk cheese should definitely be role of your cooking arsenal. I'm here to requite you the skinny on everything about Oaxaca cheese in this web log mail!

package of cacique brand oaxaca cheese on a wooden cutting board.

What is Oaxaca Cheese?

Oaxaca (pronounced "wah-HAH-kuh") cheese is named for the land in southwestern Mexico where it was born. It is a semi-soft, fresh, white, cow's milk cheese that is similar in season to mellow Monterrey Jack and has a consistency like cord cheese. (In fact, it's sometimes referred to as "Oaxacan-style string cheese!")

Mexican woman pulling and stretching ribbons of queso oaxaca.

Too known as quesillo (which roughly translates to "rope cheese"), queso Oaxaca is produced using the Italian pasta filiata method, which was brought to United mexican states by the Dominican friars in the early on 1500s.

This method of cheesemaking is complicated, involving kneading the fresh curds in hot water, stretching them into long ribbons that are cooled in saltwater, then winding the cheese ribbons into a ball that resembles a skein of yarn. If this all sounds crazy, it shouldn't: mozzarella is as well produced using the pasta filiata method.

While visiting Oaxaca, I loved seeing artisans brand queso Oaxaca as well as vendors selling balls of the famous and delicious stringy Oaxaca cheese at the markets.

Mexican man selling balls of queso oaxaca in a market.

How To Use Quesillo Cheese

Since queso Oaxaca grates, slices, and melts like mozzarella, it is an ideal cheese for near baked preparations. Accurate Mexican dishes similar quesadillas, queso fundido, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas all rely on the buttery flavour and stretch consistency of this yummy cheese.

While yous'll find lots of Mexican recipes using quesillo on this weblog, yous can too feel free to bandy in Oaxaca cheese in any recipe that calls for melty cheese. Information technology's delicious in:

  • Lasagnas
  • Nachos
  • Pizzas
  • Quesadillas
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (the cheese pull is downright Instagrammable!)
  • And and then much more!

Since the season of queso Oaxaca is quite balmy, information technology's likewise a great cheese for serving kids or picky eaters. It'll too pull autonomously like cord cheese, making it a particularly satisfying snack.

ball of quesillo cheese that has been partially grated on a wooden cutting board.

Queso Oaxaca Substitutes

While I strongly encourage you to go out and find Oaxaca Cheese, there are several perfectly acceptable substitutes if you lot just can't get your hands on it. Try using:

  • Asadero Cheese — If you want to stay in the Mexican cheese family unit, asadero is probably your all-time bet. It is balmy, melty, and cow'southward milk cheese, making information technology a fine substitute for queso Oaxaca.
  • Mozzarella, Monterey Jack (Unaged), or Muenster — If your grocery store doesn't have a huge selection of cheeses, you should be able to find at to the lowest degree i of these options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does queso Oaxaca cook?

Information technology certain does, like a darn melty cheese gnaw! If yous want a super impressive cheese pull for your next Instagram post, Oaxaca cheese is an excellent option.

Where tin I buy quesillo cheese?

Balls of queso Oaxaca have become more than and more commonplace over fourth dimension. If you have a well-stocked supermarket, it's likely that they'll comport it in their specialty cheese department or Hispanic aisle. Some places also sell it pre-shredded, but try to grab information technology in whole form if you tin can; the shreds are coated with a pulverization to go on them from sticking together, which inhibits the delightful melting ability of quesillo. You can likewise purchase Queso Oaxaca on Amazon.

Is Oaxaca cheese okay to swallow when you're significant?

So long equally the milk has been pasteurized, I'd personally feel fine about eating quesillo while meaning. That said, the CDC recommends women avoid any soft cheeses during pregnancy, and since quesillo is a semi-soft cheese, you may wish to expect until after infant arrives.

Recipes Using Oaxaca Cheese

  • Smoked Pork Chops Stuffed with Oaxaca Cheese and Green Chile
  • Cheesy Cornbread In A Skillet
  • Easy Homemade Carne Asada Nachos
  • Quesadillas de Flor de Calabaza (Squash Bloom Quesadillas)

Did you discover this post on Oaxaca Cheese useful? Or practise you lot accept any more questions well-nigh it? If so, allow me know in the comments below!

Photos by Jenna Sparks