Queso Blanco Cheese: A Keto-Friendly Superfood?

Queso blanco, or white queso, is a delicious low-carb and keto-friendly cheese dip. It is a versatile dish that can be used as a topping, a dip, or even a sauce for various meals. With its creamy texture and mild spice, it is the perfect snack or appetizer for those on a keto diet. This tasty treat is super easy to make and can be customised to your liking.

Keto-friendly queso blanco recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pound white cheddar cheese
• 1/2 pound pepper jack cheese
• 1/4 cup green chiles, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon jalapeno juice (from a jar of pickled jalapenos)
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon pink salt
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Optional ingredients:

• Pork rinds
• Celery
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Homemade keto chips
• Baked vegetables

Crockpot/Slow cooker instructions:

• Add all the ingredients at once.
• Set the temperature to low heat.
• Stir every 30 minutes until it’s smooth and creamy.

Stove-top instructions:

• Heat the heavy cream, sour cream, and jalapeno juice over medium heat.
• Add the shredded cheese.
• Keep mixing all the cheese until it’s fully melted. Mix until smooth and creamy.
• Add the remaining ingredients.
• Stir until fully combined.
• Serve with any of the optional ingredients listed above.

Tips:

• Buy blocks of cheese so there are no fillers in your sauce.
• Prep the cheese and shred it before you start.
• You can buy pre-shredded cheese, but be aware that it contains added fillers which will add carbs to your sauce.

How to keep queso blanco melted

Queso blanco is a type of white cheese that is often served grilled or fried in its whole form, rather than melted. However, if you want to melt your queso blanco, there are a few things you can do to keep it from hardening or becoming grainy as it cools.

Firstly, it is important to use freshly shredded cheese, as pre-shredded cheese can contain ingredients that make it grainy when melted. You should also avoid overcooking the cheese, as this can also cause graininess. To prevent overcooking, heat your milk to a mild simmer, then immediately reduce to low heat before adding the cheese.

When melting the cheese, be sure to whisk constantly so that it stays creamy and melts evenly. If you are making a large batch, add the cheese in batches, making sure that each batch is fully melted before adding more.

If you are serving the queso blanco at a party, it is a good idea to keep it warm in a slow cooker or Crockpot. This will prevent it from hardening as it cools. Stir the queso regularly to prevent sticking and burning.

If you have any leftover queso blanco, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, add a splash of milk and heat in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each increment to ensure even heating.

What to dip in queso blanco when on keto

Queso blanco is a keto-friendly cheese sauce that can be used as a dip or topping for various low-carb foods. Here are some ideas for what to dip in queso blanco when on a keto diet:

Pork Rinds

Pork rinds are a popular keto-friendly option for dipping in queso blanco. They are crispy and savoury, making them a perfect match for the creamy cheese sauce.

Low-carb Tortilla Chips

You can make your own low-carb tortilla chips by cutting low-carb flour tortillas into triangles, spritzing them with oil, sprinkling with salt, and baking them until crispy. These chips provide a satisfying crunch without adding many carbohydrates to your meal.

Vegetables

Queso blanco can be paired with a variety of vegetables. Some options include celery, carrots, radishes, and baked vegetables like bell peppers. You can dip them directly into the queso or use it as a topping.

Keto Chips

Keto chips, such as homemade zucchini chips or other low-carb chip options, are another crunchy option to pair with queso blanco. You can find various recipes for keto-friendly chips online or purchase them from specialty stores.

Meat

Queso blanco also pairs well with meat. You can use it as a topping for taco meat, hamburgers, steak, or grilled chicken. It adds a creamy and cheesy dimension to your protein sources while staying within the keto diet guidelines.

Other Snacks

There are also several keto-friendly snacks that you can dip into queso blanco. Some examples include keto jalapeno poppers, bacon cheeseburger bombs, and buffalo chicken meatballs. These snacks provide a variety of flavours and textures to enjoy with your queso dip.

Nutritional information for queso blanco

Queso blanco is a keto-friendly cheese sauce that can be used as a dip or topping for keto chips, salads, vegetables, and meats. It is made with a combination of cheeses, typically including white cheddar and pepper jack, as well as various spices and ingredients like sour cream and jalapeño juice. The nutritional information for queso blanco varies slightly depending on the specific recipe and serving size.

On average, one serving of queso blanco (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup) contains around 330 calories, with about 3 grams of total carbohydrates, 2.5 grams of net carbohydrates, and 1.1 grams of sugar. It also provides about 19 grams of fat and 18 grams of protein. The fat content can vary, with one source listing it as high as 28 grams, while another lists it as 19.3 grams.

In terms of micronutrients, queso blanco is a good source of calcium, providing about 20% of the daily recommended intake in one serving. It also contains small amounts of other vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin K, phosphorus, and sodium. The exact amounts of these micronutrients can vary depending on the specific ingredients and brands used.

When making queso blanco, it is important to pay attention to the type of cheese and other ingredients used, as some store-bought shredded cheeses may contain added fillers and carbohydrates. Using block cheese and shredding it yourself can help reduce the carb count and avoid unwanted ingredients. Additionally, using fresh jalapeños or jalapeño juice instead of canned ones can also affect the nutritional profile, as canned goods tend to have higher sodium content.

History of queso blanco

Queso blanco, which means "white cheese" in Spanish, is a soft, unaged fresh cheese that originated in Mexico. However, the term "queso blanco" can also be used as a generic term for a number of fresh, white cheeses produced throughout Latin America. In addition, while queso blanco is typically associated with Latin American cuisines, it was the Spanish and Portuguese who brought dairy animals and the recipe for this type of cheese to the region.

Queso blanco is made from pure cow's milk or a combination of cow and goat's milk. The cheese-making procedure is similar to that of Indian paneer, which involves boiling whole fresh milk, adding an acidifying agent such as vinegar to form curds, and then draining the curds in a cheesecloth. The texture of queso blanco is mild, firm, and crumbly, and it softens without melting—a characteristic that is highly valued in Latin American cooking.

Queso blanco is often used in Mexican and other Latin American cuisines. Its flavour is fresh, tangy, and milky, and it is typically sold only a few days after being produced. It is commonly crumbled over salads, rice, and beans, or served as a table cheese with fresh fruit, marmalade, or chutney. It can also be fried or grilled, and because it doesn't melt, it makes an excellent garnish or topping cheese.

Frequently asked questions