Queso Frito is soft and chewy on the inside and very crispy on the outside. The Perfect appetizer is done in 10 minutes or less!
The name Queso Frito is the Spanish translation for fried cheese. Every culture in the world has a fried cheese recipe.
In Latin Cuisine, fried cheese is very popular, especially in the Caribbean. In the Dominican Republic queso frito is cut into strips and pan-fried with a little oil.
In Puerto Rico we like our queso frito cut into smaller pieces. We deep-fried until crunchy and served it with Puerto Rican guava sauce. But you can also serve fried cheese with a cilantro and garlic sauce.
You can serve the queso frito in a Puerto Rican entremeses platter with other finger foods like fried pork cubes, and some Puerto Rican fried crispy chicken pieces. Sometimes it has a few easy tostones, fried shredded plantains, some cornmeal fritters, and pizza flavor empanadillas.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Is a quick and easy recipe that you only need to cut, fry, and enjoy!
- It is a recipe perfect as an appetizer because is easy and delicious.
- But even better served as party food or as football food or as any game day recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
- Queso de Freir- It comes in many sizes and brands like Tropical, Goya, or El Latino. The brand is not really important as long as it says cheese for frying. Don’t get confused with other white cheeses like queso fresco or queso blanco.
- Oil- In this recipe, I use vegetable oil but you can use any neutral flavor oil.
How To Make Queso Frito
- Photo 1: First, pat dry your cheese as this will help it get more crispy. Cut your cheese into small cubes that are about 1 inch thick. This is the perfect bite size so they can get nice and crispy. But if you want to make this in a Dominican style, then cut it into long thin strips.
- Photo 2: Deep fry the cheese for 2 minutes or until you see a nice golden color. The most important part is to constantly stir the cheese so it won’t stick together. Whatever you do, don’t leave the cheese unattended because it quickly changes color.
Recipe Tips
- It is best to fry these right before eating as they are best enjoyed hot.
- While this is a recipe that is best fried, it can also be made in an air fryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best type of cheese you can use for frying is one that has a high melting point. Which means that they need more heat to melt. But it also depends on how you are frying the cheese. If you are only pan frying then any high melt point cheese like halloumi or even mozzarella. But if you are deep frying, you better stick strictly to frying cheese only.
You do not need to freeze cheese before frying if you use a high melting point cheese like frying cheese. keep its shape.
After you make the queso frito it’s suggested to serve it and enjoy it right away. If not possible, the best way to keep the queso warm is in the oven. Preheat your oven for 10 minutes at 200° F and then turn it off. Any leftover cheese you can store in the warm oven with the light on. Keep only for 20 minutes maximum.
Try More Easy Finger Foods
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Queso Frito
Ingredients
- 16 ounces queso de freir (cheese for frying)
- 2 cups oil
Instructions
- Pat dry the cheese. Cut the cheese into 1 inch cubes.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat add your oil. Fry the cheese for 2 minutes or until they are golden brown. After the first minute has past, make sure to turn them over for a uniform color. Make sure to stir the cheese around to avoid it from sticking.
- Remove the cheese from the oil onto a plate with a paper towel to absorb all the excess oil. Serve and enjoy!
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