Description
Creamy Mexican queso blanco dip delivers irresistible comfort straight from authentic kitchens. Melted cheese, green chiles, and spices blend into a silky smooth companion perfect for chips, nachos, and gathering friends around delicious flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cheese Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) white American cheese (shredded or cubed)
- 4 ounces (113 grams) Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)
Dairy and Base Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups (296 milliliters) whole milk
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) butter
Vegetable and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (40 grams) white onion (finely chopped)
- 1 jalapeño (seeded and finely diced, or leave seeds for more heat)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Garnish Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (40 grams) diced tomatoes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons (8 grams) fresh cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic base by melting butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Sauté diced onions and jalapeños until they become translucent and tender, releasing their fragrant oils.
- Incorporate minced garlic into the softened vegetables, allowing it to bloom and intensify its flavor for approximately one minute.
- Create a smooth cornstarch slurry by whisking the cornstarch into a portion of milk until completely integrated and free of lumps.
- Pour the remaining milk into the saucepan, bringing the mixture to a gentle, rolling simmer that helps develop a rich, creamy texture.
- Introduce the cornstarch mixture to the simmering liquid, stirring continuously to prevent any potential scorching and encourage thickening.
- Reduce the heat to low, gradually folding in white American and Monterey Jack cheeses, ensuring a slow, even melting process that creates a velvety, uniform consistency.
- Enhance the dip’s depth of flavor by adding ground cumin and optional chili powder, then season with salt to balance the richness of the cheese.
- Taste and fine-tune the seasoning, adjusting salt or spices as needed to achieve the perfect flavor profile.
- Transfer the queso to a serving dish, optionally garnishing with fresh diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro for a vibrant, fresh finish.
- Serve the warm, creamy dip immediately alongside crisp tortilla chips or an assortment of fresh vegetable crudités for dipping.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeno quantity or removing seeds for milder flavor.
- Prevent cheese from becoming grainy by using low, steady heat and stirring continuously while melting.
- Select white American cheese from deli counter for smoother texture compared to packaged versions.
- Use cornstarch slurry technique to create consistent thickness without lumps or separation in the dip.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg