Whether you are a Mexican food enthusiast or novice home cook in search of creating and sharing authentic magic in the kitchen, here at Cacique® we offer a full line of unique cheeses, creams, chorizos [cho – ree – sohs] and more to meet your everyday needs. Through our authentic Mexican food products, we hope to inspire you to add a little chispa [chee – spah] (spark) of flavor and authenticity to all of your meals. To help you along your culinary journey, we are sharing a series of blog posts that will inform and guide you on how to use and enjoy our delicious products
Before you get cooking, we’d like to share a few fun facts and ways to use each of our products, and today we’d like to introduce you to the smooth, buttery flavors found in our Queso Oaxaca [keh – soh · wah – ha – ka].
What is Queso Oaxaca?
Queso Oaxaca translates to “Oaxaca cheese” and in the southern Mexican state from which it originates, it is known as quesillo [ke – see – oh]. It is a semi-soft, stringy, melting cheese made of cow’s milk that is stretched into long ribbons and gently wound into a tight ball. It is reminiscent of Mozzarella or American string cheese, with a mellow, buttery, and slightly salty twist. Enjoy fresh or use as a superior melting cheese in your favorite dishes!
Fun Queso Oaxaca Fact: Named after the state of Oaxaca in Southern Mexico where this cheese was first made, queso Oaxaca first came to be when the string cheese process was introduced to Mexico by the Dominican monks that settled in the south. The process was originally used by the Italians to make Mozzarella cheese and as water buffalo milk became unavailable, cow milk was used instead. To this day, the multi-step process involves stretching the cheese into long ribbons and rolling it up like a ball of yarn and in Mexico, queso Oaxaca is made using only cow’s milk.
How can I use Queso Oaxaca?
Queso Oaxaca can be enjoyed fresh or melted in some of our favorite traditional Mexican dishes, including enchiladas (ehn – chee – lah – dahs], chiles rellenos [ chee – lehs · reh – yen – ohs], queso fundido [keh – soh · foon – thee – thoh] and of course, quesadillas [ke – sah – thee – yahs]. If you’re looking for a superior melting cheese that doesn’t require a grater, you’ve found your match with queso Oaxaca. Simply separate the ribbons into thin strings, stuff or top your favorite dish, and let your oven or skillet do the rest.
Here are a few other fun and fresh ways you can enjoy Cacique’s Queso Oaxaca:
- Cube or string for a tasty treat that both kids and adults will love
- Serve fresh with grapes, apples, dried fruit, or cured meat and enjoy as a delicious and well-balanced snack
- Add to your favorite omelet or scrambled eggs for an extra cheesy kick
- Top stuffed peppers and broil until melted to perfection
- Use in your favorite pizza, cheese dip, or mac and cheese recipe for an extra stringy, buttery crowd-pleaser
- Stuff into your favorite sandwich – we love it in breakfast sandwiches!
- Pair with fresh tomatoes, crushed Mexican oregano, and top with olive oil for the ultimate Mexican caprese salad
- Wrap and bake in crescent rolls topped with olive oil, garlic, and herbs for an easy appetizer
- Add to a Mexican-inspired cheese board with spiced olives and fresh fruit topped with chile-lime salt
- Substitute for Mozzarella or American string cheese
What Next?
- Start Shopping – Our Cacique® Queso Oaxaca is available at retailers across the U.S. Visit our store locator to see which products are available at your local grocery store.
- Get Cooking – For more delicious and authentic recipe inspiration, check out the recipes section of our website.
- Share the Cacique Love – Be sure to share your creations with us and tag @caciqueinc on Instagram so we can see what you’re cooking up!
FAQs
The closest to Mexican cheese. Heat the grill put a tortilla, the cheese on top and the cheese will melt with the heat of the grill.
What is going on with cacique cheese? ›
Cacique Foods, the maker of a leading brand of authentic Mexican-style cheeses, cremas, chorizos and salsas in the United States, this week announced that it has ceased operations at its dairy factory in City of Industry, California, and is relocating its dairy production to its new state-of-the-art facility in ...
How to use cacique cheese? ›
Use in your favorite pizza, cheese dip, or mac and cheese recipe for an extra stringy, buttery crowd-pleaser. Stuff into your favorite sandwich – we love it in breakfast sandwiches! Pair with fresh tomatoes, crushed Mexican oregano, and top with olive oil for the ultimate Mexican caprese salad.
What is the difference between Oaxaca and queso fresco? ›
Oaxaca is a mild cheese with a stringy texture like mozzarella, and it melts easily. Cotija cheese is more like aged parmesan, with a sharp tangy flavor and a granular texture that won't melt. Queso fresco is a fresh cheese like feta with a moderately tangy flavor and a texture that crumbles easily but won't melt.
What is Oaxaca cheese best for? ›
Oaxaca cheese has a creamy and mild flavor, and it melts easily, making it an ideal stuffing for quesadillas, enchiladas, and poblano peppers. It can also be shredded and used as a garnish on top of soups, tostadas, tacos, and beans.
Is Queso Oaxaca good for melting? ›
Oaxaca cheese is a soft and white Mexican string cheese. It's perfect for melting, making it popular in fillings for enchiladas and Chili Relleno. Similar to mozzarella, this queso is mild and fresh!
Which Mexican-style cheese has Listeria? ›
This 1985 outbreak of listeriosis from Mexican-style cheese in Los Angeles County, California, resulted in 142 illnesses and 3 deaths, allegedly from insufficient pasteurization of milk or the introduction of raw milk into pasteurized milk during manufacturing (Linnan et al., 1988).
What is Cacique cheese used for? ›
Cube and add to your favorite soup for an added dimension of flavor and texture. Slice and fry in olive oil until golden and crispy, for a savory low-carb snack. Bake and use in your favorite cheesecake or fruit tart recipe. Substitute for ricotta or a mild feta cheese.
What is the difference between chihuahua and oaxaca cheese? ›
Queso Oaxaca: similar to low-moisture mozzarella, with higher moisture, and richer whole milk flavor. Use as is or melted. Queso Chihuahua®: in a class of its own, the ultimate buttery, mild melting cheese. Queso Cotija: similar to parmesan, but made with whole milk.
Can you melt cacique queso fresco? ›
Use It As a Filling. Queso fresco gets soft when heated, but it's difficult to melt. You can melt it over low heat for a while in order to make a cheesy dip or sauce, but it may remain chunky. In its soft state, it is commonly used as part of a filling for chiles relleños (stuffed chiles), quesadillas, and burritos.
This dip works with tortilla chips, pretzels, crackers, celery or carrot sticks – almost anything. You really can look at it as a spread and/or a dip. Put it on burgers (like I did with pimento cheese here), sandwiches, in pasta or even a casserole.
Why not to eat queso fresco? ›
Queso fresco that has not been made properly can cause the disease listeriosis. Listeriosis is very bad for pregnant women and babies.
What Mexican cheese melts the best? ›
Queso asadero is Mexican cheese that's great for melting. It is soft, white and creamy with a mild taste, and is often used to make pizzas, quesadillas and queso fundido.
What cheese is closest to Oaxaca? ›
Mozzarella: Mozzarella is one of the most popular substitutes for Oaxaca due to its similar consistency and flavor profile. Mozzarella is a bit spongier than Oaxaca, but the rich, milky flavors are comparable. If possible, use a variety of mozzarella that's labeled as “low moisture.”
Can you melt cacique Queso Fresco? ›
Use It As a Filling. Queso fresco gets soft when heated, but it's difficult to melt. You can melt it over low heat for a while in order to make a cheesy dip or sauce, but it may remain chunky. In its soft state, it is commonly used as part of a filling for chiles relleños (stuffed chiles), quesadillas, and burritos.
Can I use Oaxaca cheese for quesadillas? ›
Sprinkle 1-ounce of shredded Oaxaca cheese and 1 tablespoon of the prepared enchilada black beans over each tortilla. Fold the tortillas in half creating half moon shaped quesadillas.
Is Oaxaca cheese good for nachos? ›
Queso Oaxaca is the ultimate melting cheese, lending ooey gooeyness to quesadillas, tacos, chile rellenos, nachos, molletes, tlayudas, and more.
