Enjoy National Cheese Lovers Day with this ooey-gooey cheese appetizer.
Today is National Cheese Lovers Day. This special day calls for the most cheesy dish one could ever make: Queso fundido! Queso fundido translates directly to “melted cheese”. It is one of the easiest appetizers one could ever make. If you have an oven and a melting cheese, you have yourself a happy crowd.
My favorite way to prepare queso fundido is with Oaxaca cheese. Because of its string-like texture, mild taste and high fat content, this cheese can melt in under 10 minutes. Customize it and add your favorite toppings.
Many like to add a spicy element such as sliced jalapeños, roasted poblano strips, or a pico de gallo for an extra punch.
Related recipe: Baked Cheese in Green Salsa
I love nopales (cactus) and they taste wonderful mixed in chorizo. I kept this recipe vegetarian and used soy chorizo instead. You can definitely replace the soy chorizo with pork chorizo, beef chorizo or longaniza. It’ sup to you!
Queso fundido can be served as an appetizer to share or in a homegating environment. Just serve with corn or flour tortillas, thick tortilla chips or crostini to scoop all the cheesy goodness. Your guests will be delighted.
If Oaxaca cheese is not available to you, use Manchego or Monterey Jack. Shred for a faster melt before baking. It will save you lots of valuable time.
Enjoy this special day and the rest of your weekend! Hope you get to enjoy something like this delicious queso fundido with your friends and family.
Queso Fundido with Cactus and Soy Chorizo
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients
1/4 cup white onion, sliced in large pieces
1 cup cactus, chopped
6 cilantro sprigs
1 teaspoon salt
2 (12 ounce) packages of Oaxaca cheese (about 3 cups)
10 ounces soy (or pork) chorizo
Instructions
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add onion, cactus, cilantro sprigs and salt and boil over medium-low heat for 15 minutes or until cactus pieces are tender. Rinse and drain. Discard onion and cilantro. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 400° F.
Cook soy (or pork) chorizo in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Break up with large spoon into small crumbles. Stir in cactus pieces Set aside.
Unravel Oaxaca cheeses and place in a medium cast iron skillet (or two small cast iron skillets). Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, top with chorizo/cactus pieces and return to oven. Bake for 5 minutes more. Remove from heat.
Enjoy with warm corn tortillas or Tortilla chips.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
