National Queso Day
National Queso Day is a holiday observed annually on September 20th. It’s a day for people to enjoy and show their appreciation for Chile con Queso—a side dish or appetizer made of melted cheese and chili peppers, commonly served in Tex-Mex restaurants across North America.
Although there are many different variations of queso, just about all of them are quite tasty and often used as a dip for tortilla chips. Of course, cheeses such as Queso Blanco and Queso Fresco don’t have to be used only for dips.
They can also be used for making Mexican Corn, used on tacos or in burritos, melted into enchiladas, or even used to make macaroni and cheese. The possibilities are endless, and there is no wrong way to enjoy this cheese or this holiday.
The History of National Queso Day
Indigenous peoples in pre-Columbian Mexico started making cheese from domesticated animals such as cows and goats thousands of years ago. However, the concept of melting cheese wouldn’t come about until the Spanish introduced it to them.
This is when the first queso recipes actually came into existence, involving melting cheese over an open flame and then mixing it with spices. In the early 20th century, Velveeta was invented, and it wasn’t long before it was used to make a version of Chile con Queso.
This queso even made its way into a cookbook in 1939. Over the years, people around the world have created their own versions of queso, which is why there are so many recipes for it on the internet. Some of the more common recipes include Queso Flameado, White Queso Dip, Chili Cheese Queso, Poblano Queso Dip, and even Italian-style sausage Queso.
Some Quick Facts About Queso Blanco
Let’s go over a few quick facts about Queso Blanco that people wanting to celebrate National Queso Day might want to know. Let’s enjoy these facts with our favorite queso recipe and maybe a margarita. Now that’s what we call a good day!
- Queso Frito is a popular Latin American dish made using a firm, salty cheese that is fried.
- In the Philippines, Kesong Puti is made from water buffalo milk.
- In Mexican cuisine, queso blanco is traditionally made from cow’s milk, while queso fresco is made from a combination of cow’s and goat’s milk.
Observing National Queso Day
There are almost too many ways to enjoy National Queso Day to list in one article. There are about a thousand different recipes that people can make and enjoy. One of our favorite recipes is a chicken nachos dish made with white queso.
While observing this holiday, everyone can share it online with everyone using the hashtag #NationalQuesoDay on social media.