Mexican Cheese Dip
The miracle of this dip is that it’s silky smooth even when it cools – and reheats perfectly.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese FRESHLY SHREDDED – not pre-shredded
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large garlic clove finely minced
- ¼ small white onion very finely chopped (~1/4 cup)
- 1 13-ounce can evaporated milk not low fat
- 1 small tomato finely diced (3/4 cup)
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 1 4-ounce can chopped green chile fire roasted
- ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
- 2 to 3 tbsp milk any type (to loosen, as needed)
- salt to taste (cheese brands differ in saltiness, may not need)
Instructions
- Place cheese and cornstarch in a bowl, toss to coat.
- Melt butter over medium heat in a large saucepan or small pot.
- Add garlic and onion, cook slowly for 3 minutes or until onion is translucent but not browned. Add tomato (including juices) and cook for 2 minutes until tomato is slightly softened.
- Add evaporated milk and cheese. Stir, then add chiles and Spices.
- Stir until cheese melts and it becomes a silky sauce.
- Add salt to taste – amount required depends on saltiness of cheese used – and stir through cilantro.
- Adjust consistency – Stir in milk or water to adjust consistency (I use 2 tbsp) – the dip thickens when it cools, and milk can be added later to adjust to taste.
- Remove from heat. Serve warm or at room temperature – it will be soft and scoopable even when it cools.
- Store in the refrigerator. When refrigerated, it becomes the consistency of the cheese spread sold in jars that are not in the refrigerator section. Reheat in microwave and adjust consistency as desired with a tiny bit of milk. If you add too much, just put on stove again until it thickens. Freezes 3 months, fridge 5 days.