Quesoblanco Recipes

Steps:

• Over a direct source of heat warm 1 gallon of milk to 180 degrees F., stirring often to keep it from scorching. Maintain this temperature for several minutes. Slowly add vinegar until the curds separate from the whey. Usually 1/4 cup of vinegar will precipitate 1 gallon of milk.
• Pour the curds and whey into a cheesecloth-lined colander. Tie the four corners of the cheesecloth into a knot and hang to drain for several hours or until the bag of curds stops dripping. Take the mass of curds out of the cheesecloth. It will be a solid bag of curd. It may be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator until needed. It will keep up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Whisk together the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder and cumin in a medium saucepan. Add the cheese and whisk to combine. Pour in the evaporated milk and whisk to combine. Set over medium-low heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the cheese is melted and the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the queso dip to a warm serving dish. Top with cilantro, jalapeno and red onions. Serve with tortilla chips.

Steps:

• Roast the poblano chiles individually over the flame of your stovetop, using metal tongs to hold them, until the skins are totally charred. (If you don't have a gas stove, you can use an outdoor grill OR place them on a baking sheet directly under your oven's broiler.) Place the blackened chiles in a large resealable plastic bag and seal the bag to allow the chiles to sweat for a good 20 minutes.
• Use a knife to scrape off most of the blackened skins. Slice the chiles in half lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and membranes and chop into small dice.
• Add the butter to a very large pot and saute the onions, jalapenos and garlic over medium heat. Add the milk, cream, chili powder and some salt and pepper and heat. Add the processed cheese and stir to melt. Then add the Cheddar, Monterey Jack, tomatoes and diced poblanos. Slowly melt and keep warm.

Steps:

• Add the processed cheese, Monterey Jack, Cheddar and canned tomatoes (along with the juice) to a medium saucepan or 10-inch cast-iron skillet (see Cook's Note) and turn the heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until all the cheese has melted and the queso is smooth, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.
• To make the queso spicy, use hot diced tomatoes and green chiles, such as RoTel Hot, instead of the Original.
• Processed block cheese is crucial due to its meltability and what it adds to the queso's texture. Do not try to substitute other cheeses.

Steps:

• Microwave all ingredients except cilantro in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 3-1/2 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 2 min.
• Stir in cilantro.

Steps:

• Simmer all ingredients in small saucepan on stove, over low heat, until heated through and smooth.

Steps:

• Simmer all on the stove in a saucepan until smooth.

Steps:

• Bring the milk up to 190 degrees in a non-aluminum pot and then hold the temp at 190, stirring occasionally. (I do this in a crock pot to avoid scorching by heating it slowly -- I also use a thermometer).
• After the milk has sat at 190 for 10 minutes, I start adding the vinegar. This is something you kind of have to do by sight. The milk will start to curdle instantly. Continue adding the vinegar a tablespoon at a time until you can see definite separation of the milk curd and the whey (*it'll look like greenish colored egg drop soup.*).
• Strain the whey away from the cheese by pouring it into a collander lined with cheesemaker's cheesecloth, muslin or a potato sack towel. The cheese will look white a rubbery.
• Bring up the edges of the towel and tie together. Twist the towel from the top down to the cheese until the cheese is in a ball and the whey is running off of it. Hang the towel from the kitchen sink or a hook over the kitchen sink.
• Allow the cheese to hang from your kitchen sink draining for about 3 hours (I've left it overnight and it's been fine).
• About every half hour for the first two hours, give the cheese a good wringing by twisting the towel from the top down to help it form a good compact ball.
• This cheese keeps in the fridge for several days or in the freezer indefinitely.