Learn how to make Queso Fresco at home, with our simple, easy to follow delicious recipe.
Queso Fresco Cheese is a Latin American, fresh and mild cheese made with either goats or cows milk.
It is often used in Mexican cooking and it is quick and easy to make, making it a great cheese for beginner cheese makers.
Queso Fresco Cheese Ingredients
- 4 litres/1 gallon of whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon mesophilic starter
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of cheese salt
How To Make Queso Fresco Recipe
- Warm milk to 85 degrees Celsius/185 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add culture and stir in thoroughly
- Leave to ripen for 45 minutes
- Slowly add the vinegar, 1/4 cup at first and up to 1/2 cup if needed, stirring constantly until the milk coagulates.
- Leave to rest for 10 minutes once a curd has formed.
- Ladle the curds into a colander lined with cheese cloth
- Hang to drain the whey for 30 minutes
- Move the curds to a bowl with the cheese salt, working the salt into the curds with your hands.
- Line 2 cheese molds with cheese cloth
- Fill the molds with the curds and press lightly for 1 hour
- Cover the molds with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge.
How To Store Queso Fresco Cheese
Enjoy right away or within one week if refrigerated.
What is Queso Fresco?
Queso fresco is a mild, crumbly, slightly salty cheese that originated in Mexico and is featured in Latin American cuisine. Queso fresco means “fresh cheese” in Spanish, which is appropriate since it is not aged.
Queso fresco and queso blanco are similar cheeses, however, queso fresco is curdled with an acid and queso blanco is curdled with rennet.
Traditionally made with raw cow milk, queso fresco is a very versatile cheese that is great as a replacement for feta, goat or ricotta cheese.
Ways to Use Homemade Queso Fresco Cheese
Once you’ve learned how to make queso fresco at home, you need to know all the wonderful ways to use it!
One great way to take soups and salads up a notch is to add a great cheese! Queso fresco adds beautiful flavor and creaminess to both!
Butter corn on the cob, sprinkle some spices on the corn and roll it in the queso fresco!
Sprinkle it on the top of Mexican dishes, or give other styles of cuisines a flair by sprinkling it on that!
Fill burritos, pastas, and other dishes with it for added flavour and texture!
Queso fresco isn’t only for savory recipes either, it can be served with fresh or dried fruit. Especially amazing with cubed watermelon and mint sprigs.
Or it can be added to traditional cheesecake recipes or crumbles for extra creamy texture!
Tips for How to Make Queso Fresco at Home
Use distilled water
Use a digital thermometer
If you don’t have molds you should be able to shape the cheese into a disc shape
Use the whey in smoothies, soups and baked goods
Quick and Simple Queso Fresco Dip Recipe
This super easy recipe is fast to make and sure to be a hit!
You need:
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
4 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
¼ cup each of chopped cilantro and red onion
8 oz. crumbled queso fresco
2 tbsp taco seasoning of your choice
Mix all ingredients together and serve with tortilla chips
Radish Dip with Cilantro and Queso Fresco
A good dip can go a long way toward increasing your veggie intake and it that dip also has veggies already in it, that is a definite bonus!
This dip from My Kitchen Addiction can be made ahead, up to 24 hours, and goes perfectly with chips, crackers and veggies!
Ingredients
16 oz. sour cream
1 cup shredded radishes
1 cup crumbled queso fresco
¼ cup chopped cilantro, fresh not dried
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt
2 to 3 chopped scallions, for garnish
- Combine sour cream, radishes, queso fresco and cilantro.
- Add lemon juice and salt. Mix well.
- Chill in refrigerator for at least two hours.
- Garnish with chopped scallions, a few sliced radishes and a bit of crumbled queso fresco, just before serving.
What is Queso Blanco?
People often confuse queso blanco with quesco fresco, but they are not the same. Queso Blanco is a soft and creamy cheese made with rennet. It is often used in sauces or as a topping and doesn’t melt when heated.
Do you have any questions or comments about Queso Fresco? Join the discussion over at the Curd Nerd Forum. We would love to hear from you!
We really hope you enjoyed making our queso fresco cheese recipe at home as much as we do..
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