Who can resist some freshly made quesadillas with cheese? Or some stuffed chili peppers, molletes, enchiladas or some crunchy tacos sprinkled with grated cheese? Just by thinking of some of the most typical dishes of Mexican cuisine we can realize that cheeses is a very important ingredient.
Although there is more than 40 known varieties of cheese throughout Mexico, today we will focus on the characteristics and origin of the five most famous Mexican cheeses, those that can’t be missing in any Mexican kitchen to prepare delicious and traditional recipes.
Cotija Cheese
It is probably the most famous aged cheese in Mexico. It is a cheese made from raw cow’s milk, it has a rough and thick yellow rind. Its flavor is strong, salty and with a distinctive aroma. It needs at least 3 months of aging to be able to be sold as Cotija cheese. According to its texture, it is divided into a cut (when slicing it does not crumble) and grain (when cutting it, it overflows). It is a cheese that does not melt, it is grated and sprinkled on snacks, soups or pasta.
Its origin dates back centuries, when refrigeration did not exist and it was necessary to add a good amount of salt to preserve food. The first to make it were the Spaniards and Creoles who lived in the Cotixa valley (today Cotija de la Paz, Michoacán). Since 2005 it has the protection of the use of the collective brand, and is considered cultural heritage of the Sierra de Jalisco and Michoacán. We recommend trying it on the gorditas stuffed with Cotija cheese and ancho chili pepper, on the spicy elotes with garlic, or on the meat roll stuffed with cheese.
Chihuahua Cheese
It is a cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk with a semi-hard consistency. It is light yellow in color, with a delicate flavor and aroma, its texture allows it to melt easily. It is usually sold in small pieces obtained from large, circular pieces. Its origin comes from the Mennonites who came to Chihuahua in 1920, from Canada, which is why it is also known as Mennonite cheese. The dishes where this cheese is usually used is quesadillas, stuffed chili peppers or zucchini.
Oaxaca Cheese
Also known as string cheese, quesillo or braided cheese. It is made with raw or pasteurized cow’s milk. It is a fresh cheese, white in color and mild in flavor. Its characteristic shape is obtained because as soon as the milk curdles, it stretches to form strips that is rolled into a ball. It is an original ingredient from the municipality of Etla, Oaxaca. Due to its ease of shredding and melting, it is widely used in quesadillas, snacks or for gratin. Some other ideas to use it in different dishes like gratin mushrooms stuffed with shrimp, eggplant lasagna, or the potato pie with spinach.
Enchilado Cheese
The main characteristic of this cheese is that its surface is covered with a paste of dried red chili peppers that is sometimes mixed with vinegar and garlic. Although the paste provides a unique flavor and helps in the aging process, its main objective is to preserve the cheese and prevent fungi and bacteria from attacking it. This method is used in many styles of cheese to age and preserve it. Generally is eaten sliced in snacks, quesadillas or grated on a plat
Panela Cheese
It is a fresh cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk, although there is some mixtures of cow’s and goat’s milk. It is white in color with a porous, soft and fluffy texture. Its fat content is very low, which is why it is widely used in “light” dishes. For its preparation, it is necessary to drain the milk in special baskets that leave the marks on the surface of the cheese, and that is why it is also known as basket cheese. The name panela probably has something to do with the conical shape it acquires when manufactured and that is similar to piloncillo, which in some places is known as panela. It is a super versatile ingredient that is usually served as a snack, as a vegetable filling and even in desserts. Our recommended recipes is roasted panela cheese with soy sauce, the panela casserole with nopales and epazote, the zucchini caprese sandwiches or the tuna stuffed chili peppers.
