Queso

From McGough's Recipes
Prep Cook Total Serves
5 Min 10 Min 15 Min 10

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound 225 g fresh Cheddar cheese, shredded (smoked, sharp or American cheddar)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 large cloves garlic minced
  • 3.5 oz (100 g) diced tomatoes, (Roma, grape or cherry tomatoes)
  • 1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin and onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, (add more to taste if desired)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch cornflour
  • 13 oz (375 g) evaporated milk, (full fat)
  • 4 oz 120 g fire roasted green chiles, (or jalapeños)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a medium-sized pot over medium-heat. Sauté the green onions (white parts only) for 4 minutes, until soft. Then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the tomatoes in with juices with the chiles, cumin, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Cook while stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  3. Mix cornstarch into the pot, then pour in the evaporated milk, stirring well to combine.
  4. Bring to a boil, then add the cheese, mixing well. Cook, while stirring, until cheese just melts through the milk and transforms into a smooth sauce. Take off heat immediately.
  5. Stir in cilantro, green onions (reserved green parts) and season with salt to taste if needed. Mix well.
  6. Serve warm.

Tip: Queso thickens when cooled.

Notes

Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Reheat on stove or in microwave. Adjust consistency with a little more milk, if needed.

A world famous cheese dip made even more spectacular with special additions to make your guests love it even more that any regular dip. Some cheese dips start off great, but as they begin to cool down, they can become grainy and clumpy.

To combat this result, we use a secret weapon: evaporated milk! You’ve seen it make an appearance in many of our recipes, including our super popular creamy hot chocolate and reader favorite Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup. My solution to get a perfect consistency in creamy recipes without giving you a gluggy floury after-taste.

HOW TO MAKE QUESO DIP

SUPER simple to make and quick to throw together in a pot OR right in the skillet you’re serving in, as pictured above. Just let cool slightly before serving.

Start with your flavour base:

Sauté green onions: white parts only for a deeper flavour, reserving the green parts of the onion to stir through right at the end. 1 bunch of green onions is the perfect amount, then add fresh garlic.

Add tomatoes: use finely diced Roma, cherry or grape tomatoes for a sweeter flavour. Make sure you throw in those tomato juices as well!

Spices: We use fire roasted green chiles to get that smoky flavour through the dip, but you can use pickled jalapeños OR fresh chiles. The choice is yours! Ground cumin, onion powder and cayenne pepper add to the flavour profile but can be substituted for whatever you have on hand, or omitted completely.

Make your dip is mild or as hot as you like by adding more cayenne or throw in some red chili powder or hot sauce. The beauty of our queso dip is how forgiving it is!

Create that smooth, silky sauce!

A combination of cornstarch and evaporated milk creates that silky smooth sauce. Let them simmer together and thicken slightly before adding your cheese.

TIP: Taste test dip with the chips you’re serving them with so as not to over-salt! Adjust seasonings if needed.


Link to recipe