Chile con queso facts for kids
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A bowl of chile con queso served with tortilla chips as an appetizer in a Tex-Mex restaurant
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| Type | Dip |
|---|---|
| Course | Appetizer or side dish |
| Main ingredients | Cheese (often Velveeta or other processed cheese, Monterey Jack or cream cheese), cream, chili peppers |
Chile con queso (Spanish for "chile with cheese"), sometimes called simply queso, is an appetizer or side dish of melted cheese, and chili peppers, typically served in Tex-Mex restaurants as a dip for tortilla chips.
Contents
Background
Chile con queso (also spelled chili con queso) is a part of Tex-Mex and Southwestern cuisine, originating in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua as a version of Queso chihuahua and Queso flameado. Chile con queso is predominantly found on the menus of Tex-Mex restaurants in the southwest and western United States.
Ingredients
Chile con queso is a smooth, creamy sauce, used for dipping, that is made from a blend of melted cheeses (often Velveeta or another processed cheese, Monterey Jack or cream cheese), cream, and chili peppers. Many restaurants serve chile con queso with such added ingredients as pico de gallo, black beans, guacamole, and ground beef or pork.
Serving
Chile con queso is a warm dish, heated to a desired temperature. Chile con queso can be eaten with tortillas, tortilla chips, or pita chips which are thicker than regular tortilla chips. It can also be used as a condiment on fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, migas, quesadillas or any other Tex-Mex dish.
While Tex-Mex restaurants often offer chips and salsa free of charge, queso is usually offered for an additional charge. It can be made with various cheeses. Usually it is white or yellow in color.
Although chile con queso is commonly called "queso", it should not be confused with "cheese dip," which is specifically cheese without the peppers.
See also
In Spanish: Chili con queso para niños
