Queso flameado facts for kids
Queso flameado made with Oaxaca cheese and chorizo
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| Course | Hors d'oeuvre |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Mexico |
| Serving temperature | Flambé |
| Main ingredients | Cheese, spicy chorizo |
Queso flameado (pronounced "KEH-soh fla-MEH-ah-doh") is a yummy dish from Mexico. Its name means "flamed cheese" in Spanish. You might also hear it called queso fundido (melted cheese) or choriqueso. It's made with hot, melted cheese and spicy chorizo sausage. Often, it's served in a special way called flambé. This means a bit of alcohol is lit on fire to make a cool flame!
Queso flameado is like cheese fondue, but with a Mexican twist. It's a popular dish for parties and cookouts. Many people enjoy it as an appetizer in restaurants. While it's a unique part of Mexican cuisine, it's also very popular in the United States. Especially in places like El Paso. In Mexico, you'll find it more often in restaurants in the northern parts of the country.
The main ingredients are melted cheese and a special meat sauce. This sauce is usually made with fresh chorizo, tomato, onion, chile (a type of pepper), and spices. The dish is served in a small, heat-proof bowl. The cheese and the sauce are cooked separately. Then, they are put together right before you eat them.
Sometimes, this is done right at your table! Especially if it's going to be flambéed. A strong alcohol, like rum or tequila, is poured over the cheese and lit. As it burns, the server mixes in the sauce. If it's not flambéed, the mixture might be quickly broiled instead. Either way, the dish comes out bubbling hot. You then spoon it onto small, soft tortillas to make your own mini tacos!
People say Queso flameado started in the areas where northern Mexico meets the southwestern United States. It was first a simple dish cooked over campfires.
In Tex-Mex restaurants, this dish is sometimes mixed up with chili con queso. Chili con queso is a cheese sauce served with tortilla chips for dipping. They are different dishes. The term queso fundido can also mean processed cheese. This is how it's defined in the Spanish version of Codex Alimentarius.
Contents
Tasty Variations
Both the cheese and the meat sauce for Queso flameado are made fresh. They are served hot and bubbly.
Cheese Choices
Oaxaca cheese and Chihuahua cheese are popular choices. These cheeses melt well and stay stringy. Many people think this stringy quality is important for the dish. But if you don't like stringy cheese, you can use a fresh farmer's cheese or goat cheese. These will give you a smoother texture.
Meat and Other Additions
If you can't find fresh chorizo, you can use pieces of dry chorizo. Other types of sausage can also work. Sometimes, people add strips of roasted chiles. Sautéed mushrooms are another common and tasty addition.
Flambé Liquids
For the flambé part, popular alcohols include rum, brandy, and tequila. These give the dish a special flavor and a cool flame!
Tortilla Types
You can use either corn or wheat tortillas with Queso flameado. In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, flour tortillas are usually served with this dish. Corn tortillas are more common for other meals there.
See also
In Spanish: Queso flameado para niños
