This Air Fryer Queso Frito Recipe is a gamechanger. It takes you step by step into making this Dominican fried cheese appetizer that everyone will love.
What is Queso Frito
Queso frito or fried cheese is a staple in so many Hispanic countries. Essentially, it is a white, salty cheese (with a high melting point) called queso de freír, queso paisa, queso fresco or queso blanco. Queso frito is a common dish throughout Latin American countries, especially South America, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico
In the Dominican Republic, it is served as an appetizer or side dish. It is the perfect accompaniment to a classic Dominican Mofonogo or alongside a plate of Habichuelas and Chicharron de Pollo.
This Queso Frito Recipe is very straightforward. There is not much to it, you just need to fry the cheese.
Our Tips for a Perfect Queso Frito
The best piece of advice we can offer is to be careful what brand of cheese you select. In the Dominican it is made with a cheese called “queso de freír” which is an essential part of the traditional Dominican breakfast because of the high melting point.
What does a high melting point mean? You want to use a cheese that is specifically made for frying. Meaning the cheese needs to be slightly salty and able to hold together, while it is cooking. This will allow it to become warm and gooey on the inside. We like the brands “Campesino” and “Tropical.”
We love adding Queso Frito into our rotation of appetizers for a few reasons. First we love how it is so simple. There is always an indescribable elevation to a dish with a handful of ingredients. It allows the ingredients to really be the center focus. This dish is a shining example of this principle. The cheese really just shines.
We also love this dish can be prepared quickly and doesn’t require too much attention. This allows you to focus on other things while you get a delicious appetizer in the works.
Making Queso Frito A Little Lighter
We are constantly walking the line here between tradition and health. We wanted to find a way to make this dish a little cleaner and healthier. Traditionally you would fry this with oil in a pan. We thought it would be good to use the air fryer. The Air Fryer is the perfect alternative to because it is a lot less messy. Nobody wants a messy kitchen. Plus the cheese still gets that signature golden crispy exterior of great queso frito. So we don’t miss out on anything by not frying.
Let’s Cook!
Try Some of Our Other Favorite Appetizers
Queso Frito (Dominican Fried Cheese)
Course: AppetizersCuisine: Dominican RepublicDifficulty: Easy6
servings2
minutes7
minutesIngredients
10 oz fresh white frying cheese (Be sure it says “for frying” on the label)
Avocado oil or any neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil
Directions
- Place the sliced cheese on a paper towel. This is an important step to get rid of all the moisture on the cheese and be sure the cheese becomes golden brown.
- Preheat your air fryer by turning the heat to 400 degrees and running it for 3 minutes with nothing inside.
- Meanwhile, brush the cheese liberally with oil on both sides.
- Once the air fryer is hot, add the cheese. Set air fryer to 400 degrees for 7-9 minutes. You don’t want to crispy it too much or the cheese will dry out on the inside.
Serve hot.
