What is Chihuahua cheese?

Chihuahua is a mild cheese originating in Mexico. It is often ground or melted into Mexican dishes such as enchiladas and frequently used to make dips such as queso fundido.

What is Chihuahua cheese?

Chihuahua cheese, also known as Queso Chihuahua, originated with the arrival of Mennonite communities in northern Mexico in the 1920s. These Western European communities traveled through Russia to parts of western Canada, eventually settling in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Guanajuato.

The Mennonites brought their own Recipes for making cheesewho were adopted by their new neighbors. For this reason, Chihuahua cheese is also known in Mexico as Queso Menonita and Campresino Menonita (“campresino” referring to the cheddar-like pressing process used to make the cheese).

As such, unlike fresh Mexican cheese queso frescoqueso blanco, and The cottageWith a firm but crumbly texture, the Chihuahua has a soft texture that melts easily. It has a buttery flavor with a hint of tartness or sourness. The texture of the cheese is soft and malleable at room temperature and smooth, stretchy and runny when heated. Find it in the dairy case in Latin American grocers and well-stocked supermarkets.

How Chihuahua Cheese is Made

Raw or pasteurized cow’s milk is heated in a large vat. Starter cultures are added to lower the pH of the milk, and when it becomes sufficiently acidic, Rant is added to the vat. The milk is allowed to coagulate into a soft but bouncy curd with a silken tofu-like texture. When the curd is set, the cheese is cut into small pieces, then heated and stirred. Yogurt and whey mixture to thicken the curd and remove excess whey.

gave Whey The curds are drained and allowed to coagulate into a mass, which is kept at a warm temperature and turned several times to extract more whey. In the same way that cheddar is made, the curd is then cut into small pieces and mixed with salt.

The salted curd is wrapped in cheesecloth to form cheese, and then each wheel is pressed to bind the curd together and squeeze out more whey. The wheels are allowed to dry and the cheese can then be eaten or stored by vacuum sealing in plastic.

Alternative

Any other mild-flavored melting cheese, such as mild CheddarMonterey Jack, or deli Muenster, can be used as a substitute for Chihuahua.

uses

Use Chihuahua cheese anywhere a smooth, runny, melty cheese with a mild, buttery flavor is called for. It is traditionally used in Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, chiles rellenosand melted cheese dips like queso fundido and queso blanco. It can be melted on nachos or even used on pizza or in casseroles and baked dishes. Grilled cheese sandwich or paninis.

Storage

Store Chihuahua cheese in its original packaging in the cool part of your refrigerator. After opening, wrap the Chihuahua tightly in plastic wrap, seal it in a plastic zip-top bag, or store it in an airtight plastic or glass container for up to two weeks.

If a small amount of surface mold has grown on the cheese, it can be cut off with a sharp knife. Be careful not to run the knife through the mold, which can spread it through the rest of the cheese.

Chihuahua cheese can be frozen, either unopened in its original packaging or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil or sealed in an airtight zip-top plastic bag. It can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight before using. However, it is recommended to use it. Frozen and melted cheese Only when it is cooked or thawed, as the texture may be affected if eaten at room temperature.

Chihuahua recipes.

Can you eat the rind?

Chihuahua is often aged in plastic, making it a colorless cheese. The whole cheese can be eaten.