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Ingredients
- Wonton Wrapped Queso Fresco
- Pan Fried Cotija with Cilantro Chutney
- Citrus Salad with Queso Fresco, Panela and Cotija
- Tostadas with Chorizo, Cotija and Crema Agria
- Enchilado and Pasilla Stuffed Chicken Breast with Crema Enchiladas and Chipotle Crema
- Banana Creme Pie with Crema Salvadorena
View Full Recipe at Shockingly Delicious
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Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per Recipe | %DV |
|---|---|
| Recipe Size 6g | |
| Calories 23 | |
| Calories from Fat 9 | 39% |
| Total Fat 1.04g | 1% |
| Saturated Fat 0.0g | 0% |
| Trans Fat 0.0g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 6mg | 0% |
| Potassium 146mg | 4% |
| Total Carbs 3.36g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber 1.8g | 6% |
| Sugars 0.0g | 0% |
| Protein 0.81g | 1% |
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,%20hails%20from%20Oaxaca,%20Mexico,%20and%20is%20similar%20to%20mozzarella.%20While%20being%20made%20by%20hand,%20it%20is%20formed%20into%20a%20long%20rope%20that%20is%20then%20coiled%20into%20a%20ball.%20As%20you%20eat%20it,%20you%20uncoil,%20and%20if%20you%20pull%20it%20apart%20further,%20you%E2%80%99ll%20create%20strings,%20much%20like%20you%20find%20with%20string%20cheese.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThat%E2%80%99s%20just%20one%20of%20the%20fascinating%20things%20I%20learned%20while%20visiting%20the%20Cacique%20Mexican%20cheese%20plant%20in%20La%20Puente,%20on%20the%20outskirts%20of%20Los%20Angeles.%20Here,%20in%20a%20huge%20factory,%20some%20of%20the%20finest%20Mexican%20cheeses%20in%20the%20country%20are%20made,%20packaged%20and%20sent%20on%20their%20way%20to%20grocery%20stores%20everywhere.%20In%20fact,%20Cacique%20is%20the%20largest%20fresh%20cheese%20company%20in%20the%20U.S.,%20with%20facilities%20and%20distribution%20centers%20throughout%20the%20country.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIt%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20always%20this%20way.%20When%20Gilbert%20de%20Cardenas%20came%20here%20from%20Latin%20America%20with%20his%20young%20family,%20seeking%20a%20better%20life%20in%20America,%20he%20%20began%20small.%20Although%20he%20worked%20as%20a%20handyman,%20he%20knew%20how%20to%20make%20high%20quality,%20authentic,%20fresh%20cheese,%20called%20queso%20fresco,%20which%20at%20that%20time%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20sold%20in%20stores.%20So%20he%20and%20his%20wife%20took%20their%20$1,500%20life%20savings%20and%20began%20selling%20the%20cheese%20out%20of%20the%20back%20seat%20of%20his%20teal%20green%20Pontiac.%20He%20went%20store%20to%20store,%20selling%20his%20cheeses%20a%20few%20here,%20a%20few%20there.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHe%20named%20his%20first%20cheese%20Queso%20Fresco%20Ranchero,%20after%20a%20restaurant%20in%20Pasadena%20that%20used%20it,%20and%20Cacique%20was%20born.%20The%20term%20cacique,%20in%20Latin%20America,%20means%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20chief%E2%80%9D%20or%20the%20head%20of%20the%20tribe;%20the%20very%20best%20or%20the%20pinnacle.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20de%20Cardenas%20family%20has%20been%20living%20up%20to%20that%20name%20since%20the%20beginning.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EToday,%20the%20children%20of%20the%20elder%20Gil%20run%20the%20company.%20Gilbert%20B.%20de%20Cardenas,%20Ana%20de%20Cardenas-Raptis,%20Maria%20de%20Cardenas-Krakovic%20and%20Antonio%20de%20Cardenas%20carry%20on%20their%20parents%E2%80%99%20vision%20and%20ideals,%20built%20upon%20the%20pillars%20of%20%20family,%20quality,%20integrity%20and%20authenticity.%20It%20is%20these%20guiding%20principles%20that%20they%20refer%20to%20daily%20as%20they%20guide%20and%20grow%20the%20company.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EA%20single%20statistic%20might%20give%20you%20a%20good%20idea%20of%20this%20growth.%20In%20earlier%20days,%20Cacique%20used%20600%20pounds%20of%20milk%20a%20day.%20Now%20they%20process%201.2%20million%20pounds%20of%20hormone-free,%20Kosher-certified%20milk%20per%20day.%20These%20days,%20Queso%20Fresco%20takes%20only%202-4%20days%20from%20cow%20to%20store.%20%E2%80%9CNothing%20can%20be%20fresher%20than%20that,%E2%80%9D%20says%20Enrique%20Botello,%20Cacique%E2%80%99s%20director%20of%20marketing,%20who%20is%20pictured%20above%20with%20the%20Oaxaca%20cheese%20the%20size%20of%20his%20head.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20have%20quality%20you%20can%20taste.%E2%80%9D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAll%20that%20milk%20makes%20for%20a%20lot%20of%20cheese,%20and%20their%20product%20line%20has%20expanded%20quite%20a%20bit%20beyond%20that%20first%20Queso%20Fresco%20Ranchero.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHere%20are%20a%20few%20of%20the%20cheeses%20and%20their%20characteristics:%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPanela:%20Crumbly%20curd%20style,%20all-natural%20fresh%20cheese,%20has%20a%20mild,%20milky%20flavor.%20When%20heated%20it%20will%20soften%20but%20not%20get%20stringy,%20and%20it%20has%20the%20magical%20ability%20to%20be%20seared%20into%20a%20golden%20slab%20without%20getting%20runny.%20It%20crumbles%20easily%20and%20is%20great%20to%20stuff%20jalapenos.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ECotija:%20A%20robust%20flavored%20artisan%20cheese%20with%20a%20dry,%20crumbly%20texture,%20much%20like%20Parmesan%20cheese.%20It%E2%80%99s%20used%20as%20a%20topping%20and%20can%20be%20subbed%20for%20Parmesan.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ERanchero%20Queso%20Fresco:%20This%20signature%20cheese%20is%20mild%20and%20buttery,%20with%20a%20fresh%20milky%20flavor.%20It%20will%20soften%20when%20you%20heat%20it,%20but%20won%E2%80%99t%20get%20stringy,%20and%20goes%20well%20with%20spicy%20flavors%20and%20ingredients.%20Crumble%20it%20in%20your%20salad!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFour%20Quesos%20Blend:%20In%20response%20to%20consumer%20demand,%20Cacique%20has%20introduced%20shredded%20cheese%20blends%20in%20bags.%20This%20blend%20combines%20four%20authentic,%20Mexican-style%20cheeses:%20Manchego,%20Oaxaca,%20Quesadilla%20and%20Asadero.%20I%20found%20it%20so%20much%20more%20flavorful%20than%20other%20cheese%20blends%20in%20the%20market.%20It%E2%80%99s%20smooth,%20buttery,%20rich%20and%20goes%20well%20in%20all%20sorts%20of%20dishes,%20from%20enchiladas%20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