Baked Queso Fresco with Tomatillo Sauce 🧀🍅
Overview
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Description
This delightful recipe for Baked Queso Fresco with Tomatillo Sauce hails from the kitchens of the Houston Chronicle, shared by the talented chef at Prairie View A & M University. Perfect for your next football gathering or festive holiday celebration, this appetizer packs a punch of Southwestern U.S. and Mexican flavors, with just the right amount of spice to keep your taste buds dancing.
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 | garlic |
| 1 | bunch cilantro |
| 1/4 | lime, juice of |
| 1 | avocado |
| 1/2 | teaspoon salt |
| 1 | jalapeño |
| – | tomatillos |
| 1 | block queso fresco |
Nutrition Facts per Serving
- Calories: 48.1
- Total Fat: 2.6g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 2.3mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 6.5g
- Dietary Fiber: 2.4g
- Sugar: 3.2g
- Protein: 1.1g
Recipe Keywords
Southwestern U.S., Mexican, Spicy, < 60 Mins, Oven, Stove Top
Instructions
-
Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
-
Prepare the Tomatillo Sauce:
- In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a rolling boil.
- While the water heats up, remove the husks from the tomatillos.
- Once the water is boiling, add the tomatillos and let them cook for about two minutes or until they are soft.
- Carefully remove the tomatillos from the water and transfer them to a blender or food processor.
-
Blend the Sauce:
- To the blender or food processor with the tomatillos, add the garlic, cilantro, lime juice, avocado (peeled and pitted), jalapeño (stemmed and seeds removed), and salt.
- Blend or process the mixture until it forms a smooth and vibrant green sauce. This is your delicious tomatillo sauce!
-
Assemble the Dish:
- Place the block of queso fresco in an ovenproof serving dish.
- Pour the freshly made tomatillo sauce generously over the queso fresco, ensuring it covers the cheese completely.
-
Bake to Perfection:
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes.
- Keep an eye on it; you want the queso fresco to become soft and slightly melted, bathed in the flavorful tomatillo sauce.
-
Serve and Enjoy:
- Once the cheese is beautifully baked and bubbling, remove the dish from the oven.
- Serve your Baked Queso Fresco with Tomatillo Sauce hot, alongside a basket of your favorite tortilla chips for dipping and scooping.
Serving Suggestions
This appetizer is best enjoyed fresh from the oven while the queso fresco is still gooey and the tomatillo sauce is warm. The combination of creamy cheese with the zesty, tangy tomatillo sauce is sure to be a hit at any gathering. For a festive touch, garnish with extra cilantro leaves or a sprinkle of diced jalapeños. Pair with refreshing margaritas or your favorite Mexican beer for the perfect game day treat or holiday appetizer. 🌶🧀
Recipe Notes
- To adjust the spice level, you can add more or less jalapeño to the tomatillo sauce.
- Don’t worry about removing every single tomatillo husk; a little bit left on is perfectly fine.
- If you can’t find queso fresco, you can substitute with another mild, crumbly cheese such as feta or farmer’s cheese.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven or microwave. The flavors often meld even more, making for a tasty snack the next day.
