The ultimate guide to Mexican cheeses

In Mexico, there isn't just one type of cheese; on the contrary, there is a wide range of dairy products that adorn and flavor our everyday dishes. Some are milder than others, some are ideal for eating fresh, and some find their best version when melted. Today, we will talk about the 5 most representative cheeses so you know exactly how to use each one. Cotija Cheese This cheese is special because, unlike many others, it does not melt when heated. It is the classic salty cheese that is perfect for topping snacks like tostadas and sopes, but it can also be used in Mediterranean-style cooking, adding it and sprinkling it over salads and pastas. Recommended Recipe: Potato Cakes with Cotija Cheese BEAUTIFUL #salad of #verdolagas (#purslane) #heirloombeans #quesocotija and DESMADRE by @csalgado at @tacomaria. For those of you who say this ain't real Mexican (whatever the hell that's supposed to mean), this is actually closer to what our ancestors are than any carnitas taco, so STFU. #altacocina yet #paisa AF at @socoandtheocmix in #costamexico—eat there TODAY!!! #askamexican #reconquista #tacousa #mexicanfood #comidamexicana #fuckthehaters #salads #saladgram A photo posted by Gustavo Arellano (@gustavo_arellano) on Sep 18, 2016 at 9:05 PDT Fresh Cheese What are some golden tacos or flautas without a bit of fresh cheese? The incredible thing about this cheese is that it has two faces; the first is that salty side where you use it in a toasted tortilla with avocado to make a quesadilla. The other side is using this cheese with fruit, for a delicious breakfast that combines sweetness with the saltiness of the cheese. Recommended Recipe: Spicy Watermelon Cubes with Fresh Cheese Tosta ducales with fresh cheese, cane honey, and crunchy Santapola salt! #laovejanegranovelda #novelda #quesofresco #miel #sal A photo posted by La Oveja Negra (@ov3ja) on Jul 27, 2016 at 11:31 PDT Oaxaca Cheese This delicious fresh cheese stretches into cords like thick threads, and this is how many choose to eat it: raw. But it is also an ideal cheese for quesadillas, whether they are filled with zucchini flowers, chorizo, ham, etc. Oaxaca cheese is also great in sandwiches if you're looking to diet because it's low in calories, but with an identifiable and super rich flavor. Recommended Recipe: Tlayudas Tlayuda #tlayuda#frijoles#cecina#nopales#jitomate#cebolla#cilantro#aguacate#quesooaxaca#beans#saltedmeat#nopales#tomatoes#onion#coriander#avocado#cheese#fiestaspatrias#mexico#oaxaca A photo posted by Didecxy Adame (@didecxia) on Sep 19, 2016 at 7:57 PDT Chihuahua Cheese It is also known as Mennonite cheese, named after the population that created it. The original version is semi-hard, with very small holes, similar to a type of Chester cheese, but with a stronger flavor. This version is sold covered in cloth and paraffin wax, making it very iconic and ideal for eating raw with bread and cold cuts or for gratin. Recommended Recipe: Ham and Cheese Tacos Recipe of the day: HAM SANDWICH STYLE CUERNITOS 😍🍅 INGREDIENTS 2 sheets of dough for cuernitos (you can buy them at the bakery) 1/4 of sliced salami 1/4 of sliced leg ham 1/2 kg of sliced Chihuahua cheese 7 eggs 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups of chopped fresh spinach 4 roasted and sliced tomatoes pepper to taste PREPARATION Preheat the oven to 230° C. Place one of the sheets of dough at the bottom of a greased round cake pan. In a small bowl, mix 6 of the eggs with the Parmesan, and add some pepper. Now we will layer our ingredients: put a layer of spinach, salami, Chihuahua cheese, ham, some of the egg mixture, and finally tomato. Make as many layers as your ingredients allow, and at the end, cover well with the other sheet of dough, making sure it is well 'sealed', and with the remaining egg, brush the top to give it color and texture when baked. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes at 180°, after that time, remove the aluminum foil and bake for another 30 minutes. Once ready, remove from the oven and let cool so you can slice it without it falling apart. Doesn't that sound delicious? And the best part it’s super easy to make! #recetadeldia #recetas #recetasricas #recipe #recipeoftheday #sandwich #quesochihuahua #grilledcheese #roastedtomato #delicious #mextagramers #ig_mexico #quehacerdecomerhoy A photo posted by What to cook today? (@quehacerdecomerhoy) on Sep 13, 2016 at 11:50 PDT Asadero Cheese Of all the Mexican cheeses, this cheese is the best for gratin. It is the one used to make melted cheese, tacos with cheese, quesadillas, and other Aztec snacks that carry that almost spreadable delicious cheese. It is widely used in the north in states like Chihuahua, Sonora, and Durango to make typical burritos. Recommended Recipe: Melted Cheese with Chorizo and Strips Chorizo Melted Cheese @elalma_atx! One of the best!! 😍😍😍 A photo posted by 🍴Amanda🍴 (@s.a.foodie) on Sep 24, 2016 at 1:35 PDT