Our Queso frito (Dominican fried cheese) is a must-have part of the traditional Dominican breakfast meal. Find out just how easy it is to fry cheese with our reliable recipe with video.
By - Reviewed: . Original: Mar 21, 2002
❝ I followed your recipe and this was delicious!! ... ❞
Why we ❤️ it
Los Tres Golpes: Queso frito (fried cheese), Mangú with red onions, fried eggs, and fried Dominican salami is the quintessential Dominican breakfast, and what, in an ideal world, Dominicans would probably choose most days for breakfast.
Yes, even the cheese is fried. And it's the food of the gods.
What's queso de freír?
Queso de freír or queso blanco is a salty Dominican cheese with a very high melting point, almost always served fried. Queso blanco is a favorite of those on a low-carb diet.
For this recipe you need a good queso de freír, or Dominican queso blanco.
See my Queso frito in air fryer recipe.
Fried cheese (queso frito).
Serving suggestions
Aside from the traditional serving suggestions from the first paragraph, this fried cheese goes great with Mangú de guineo verde, Puré de auyama (pumpkin mash) and Puré de yautía (malanga mash). If you prefer a low-carb alternative, this Low-carb mangú is surprisingly good.
A cup of café con leche (Dominican latte) goes great with your breakfast or any of our hot breakfast drinks.
Tips for great fried cheese
- Picking queso de freír: A good "queso de freir" will keep its shape when deep fried, but as sometimes it is not necessarily the case, we present a simple trick to make it a successful experience.
- Oil: You need oil with a high smoke point, typically soy, corn, or peanut oil. If you do not consume vegetable oils, ghee works well too.
- Substitutions: If you cannot find queso de freír cheese where you live, try to find halloumi (without mint!), the taste and texture are very similar, and I can attest that it works just fine. In Spain you can use queso fresco for the same purpose.
- If the cheese melts: If the first slice you fry melts, coat the remaining slices with a fine layer of cornstarch and shake off the excess. If it fries without a problem, this step is not necessary. Some people use all-purpose flour, but it's not my preferred texture.
- Frying time: How long you fry the cheese depends entirely on your taste. Some prefer it a light golden color and lightly "melty". Some like it fried until the edges are crispy and a darker color. Go with what you like.
About our recipe
Queso frito means "fried cheese" in Spanish, but in the Dominican Republic, it specifically refers to this type of fried cheese made with "queso de freír" which is an essential component of the traditional Dominican breakfast.
This simple 2-ingredient recipe is integral to our breakfast tradition and as easy to make as it sounds.
Do you have any tips for great fried cheese? Share it in the comments!
Video
Recipe
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Queso Frito [Video+Recipe] Fried Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound queso de freir, [0.23 kg]
- ⅓ cup oil for frying
Instructions
1. Prepare the cheese
Cut the cheese into 12 slices (2" x 3", ¼" thick, approx). Pat dry the cheese with a paper towel to minimize splatters.
2. Fry
Heat the oil over medium-high heat[350 ºF or 175 ºC] in a medium pan, and fry the cheese on one side until it turns golden brown.⚠️ Fry one slice first to see if it fries well, see notes if it doesn't. Turn and repeat. Once fried to the color and consistency you prefer, rest on a paper towel while frying the rest.⚠️ Do not add many slices at the same time as the oil must remain very hot to prevent the cheese from staying in the oil for too long.
3. Serve
This is best served while still warm. See serving suggestions above the recipe.
Cook's Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
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More cheese recipes
Try this Queso in air fryer recipe, this unique Locrio de queso (rice with fried cheese), and this Plantain and queso breakfast tart.
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