Fried cheese

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Fried cheese curds Fried Cheese Curds Green Bay Wisconsin.JPG
Fried cheese curds

Fried cheese is a dish of cheese that is fried in oil. [1] Fried cheese can be dipped in a batter before frying, and can be pan-fried or deep fried. [2] It can be served as an appetizer or a snack. [2] [3]

Contents

Fried cheese is typically served hot, right after being cooked. [4] [5] [6] It may be accompanied with a dipping sauce or coated with a dressing. [4]

Fried cheese is a common food in Brazil and the Dominican Republic, [1] and is typically served as a breakfast dish in Costa Rica, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. [7] Fried cheese is served as a tapas dish in Spain; [4] fried cheese balls are delicias de queso (lit.'cheese delights'). [5] Fried cheese is also found in Italian cuisine. [8]

History

Fried cheese was a popular dish in Cairo during the Middle Ages, and remained a part of the cuisine under Ottoman rule. [7] Since then, its popularity has decreased. [7]

Dishes

Smazeny syr being pan-fried in oil Smazeny syr smazeni prvni strana.jpg
Smažený sýr being pan-fried in oil

Fried cheese curds are made from cheese curds and often served with a dipping sauce. [9]

Queso frito 'fried cheese' has many variations. [10] Spanish versions sometimes use paprika. [10] It is also found in Central American cuisine. [a]

Malakoff is a Swiss-fried cheese dish.

Mozzarella sticks are slices of mozzarella cheese that are battered or coated in bread crumbs and then deep-fried or pan-fried. [12] The dish can also be baked, [13] rather than fried.

Saganaki is a Greek-fried cheese dish prepared in a small copper pan. [14]

In Israel, the main way to prepare Halloumi cheese is by frying it with olive oil in the pan, unlike the rest of the countries where grilling is the main way to do so.

In Egypt, جبنه مقليهgebnah ma'liyyah 'fried cheese' is usually battered and served as an appetizer; it is considered a specialty of Alexandria.[ citation needed ]

Smažený sýr (Czech) or vyprážaný syr (Slovak) is a cheese that is prepared by being dredged in flour, placed in an egg wash and then coated with bread crumbs, after which it is deep-fried. [15] It is a common street food in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. [15]

Kaassoufflé is a deep-fried Dutch fast food snack of cheese in a bread wrap.

In Hungary, fried cheese is a common cheap dish, served in restaurants or at home, usually made from the locally popular trappista cheese which accounts for 70% of the country's cheese consumption. It is a "poor man's" item of vegetarian food in restaurants which do not offer more usual vegetarian dishes and so prepare fried cheese and deep-fried vegetables as a main course option for any customer who does not want meat. The common name, rántott sajt, simply means 'fried cheese' or 'deep fried cheese'. It is generally served in a square or in a triangular shape.

Romania and Bulgaria have a similar dish to the Czechs, Slovaks and Hungarians, called caşcaval pane . Caşcaval is a general term for yellow cheeses in the two countries, with the ones most commonly used being Edam or Gouda. Therefore, the name could literally be translated as 'breaded yellow cheese'.

Commercial production

Mozzarella cheese is often used by fried cheese food manufacturers in the United States, because it has a desirable consistency and because it has a neutral flavor that is "widely acceptable". [16]

Health concerns

A significant amount of oil is absorbed into cheese when it is fried, and the frying of cheeses adds advanced lipid end products [17] and dicarbonyls to advanced glycation end-products that are already present in cheeses. [1] The advanced lipid end products are generated in a chemical reaction that occurs when the oil is intermingled with the proteins in cheeses. [1] Furthermore, most cheeses are salty. [1] [18] As such, fried cheese has been described as an unhealthy dish. [1]

In Brazil, the chronic consumption of fried cheese has been demonstrated to be one of the dietary risk factors associated with oral cancer incident rates. [b]

See also

Notes

  1. "Central America (queso blanco, queso fresco, or queso frito) ..." [11]
  2. "Chronic consumption of fried cheese was among the dietary risk factors associated with the incidence of oral cancer in Brazil." [1]

Related Research Articles

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An enchilada is a Mexican dish consisting of a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a savory sauce. Enchiladas can be filled with various ingredients, including meats, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables, or combinations. Enchilada sauces include chili-based sauces, such as salsa roja, various moles, tomatillo-based sauces, such as salsa verde, or cheese-based sauces, such as chile con queso.

<i>Meze</i> Small dish in Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines

Meze is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in eastern Mediterranean cuisines: Syria, Iraq, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Armenia. It is similar to Spanish tapas and Italian antipasti. A meze may be served as a part of a multi-course meal or form a meal in itself. Meze are often served with spirits such as arak, rakia, raki, oghi, ouzo, or grappa at meyhane and ouzeri or at regular restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paneer</span> Type of fresh cheese in South Asian cuisine

Paneer, also known as ponir, is a fresh acid-set cheese common in cuisine of South Asia made from cow milk or buffalo milk. It is a non-aged, non-melting soft cheese made by curdling milk with a fruit- or vegetable-derived acid, such as lemon juice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schnitzel</span> Breaded, fried flat piece of meat

Schnitzel is a thin slice of meat. The meat is usually thinned by pounding with a meat tenderizer. Most commonly, the meat is breaded before frying. Breaded schnitzel is popular in many countries and is made using veal, pork, chicken, mutton, beef, or turkey. Schnitzel originated as wiener schnitzel and is very similar to other breaded meat dishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saganaki</span> Greek fried cheese dish

In Greek cuisine, saganaki is any one of a variety of dishes prepared in a small frying pan, the best-known being an appetizer of fried cheese. It is commonly flambéed in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chile con queso</span> Side dish of melted cheese and chili peppers


Chile con queso, sometimes simply called queso, is an appetizer or side dish of melted cheese and chili peppers, typically served in Tex-Mex restaurants as a dip for tortilla chips. It can also be added to other dishes such as taco.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honduran cuisine</span> Culinary tradition

Honduran cuisine is a fusion of Mesoamerican, Spanish, Caribbean and African cuisines. There are also dishes from the Garifuna people. Coconut and coconut milk are featured in both sweet and savory dishes. Regional specialties include sopa de caracol, fried fish, tamales, carne asada and baleadas. Other popular dishes include meat roasted with chismol and carne asada, chicken with rice and corn, and fried fish with pickled onions and jalapeños. In the coastal areas and the Bay Islands, seafood and some meats are prepared in many ways, including with coconut milk. Among the soups the Hondurans enjoy are bean soup, mondongo soup, seafood soups and beef soups. Generally all of these soups are mixed with plantains, yuca, and cabbage, and served with corn tortillas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuffed peppers</span> Dish involving filling the cavities of a bell pepper with other food

Stuffed peppers is a dish common in many cuisines. It consists of hollowed or halved bell peppers filled with any of a variety of fillings, often including meat, vegetables, cheese, rice, or sauce. The dish is usually assembled by filling the cavities of the peppers and then cooking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queso flameado</span> Dish of hot melted cheese and spicy chorizo

Queso flameado, also known as queso fundido or choriqueso, is a dish of hot melted cheese and spicy chorizo that is often served flambé. Often compared to cheese fondue, it is a party dish; it is popular at cookouts and in restaurants as an appetizer. Almost unique in Mexican cuisine, in the cuisine of the United States this dish has been widely adapted and is considered a native dish in El Paso. In Mexico, it occurs in restaurants more often in the north. Typical main ingredients are melted cheese and a characteristic meat sauce of loose fresh chorizo, tomato, onion, chile and spices. It is served in a small, shallow casserole or other ceramic or metal heat-proof baking dish. The cheese and sauce are prepared separately, and combined just before serving. This may be done at the table, especially if finished with a flambé: high alcohol liquor is poured on the cheese and ignited, and as it burns the server folds in the sauce. If not flambéed, the mixture may be quickly broiled. Either way, the finished dish is presented while it is still bubbling hot, and it is spooned onto small soft tortillas for individual servings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croquette</span> Small breaded, deep-fried food

A croquette is a deep-fried roll originating in French cuisine, consisting of a thick binder combined with a filling, which is then breaded. It is served as a side dish, a snack, or fast food worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorullos</span> Puerto Rican fried cornmeal dish

Sorullos are a fried cornmeal-based dish that is a staple of the Puerto Rican cuisine. Sorullos are served as a side dish or as appetizers, and are sometimes stuffed with cheese. They can be served with mayoketchup, coffee or dusted in confectioners' sugar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaded cutlet</span> Meat in breading or batter

Breaded cutlet or braised cutlet is a dish made from coating a cutlet of meat with breading or batter and either frying or baking it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chips and dip</span> Chips or crisps served with dips

Chips or crisps are often served with dipping sauces; together they are referred to as chips and dip. Chips used include potato chips, tortilla chips, corn chips, bean chips, vegetable chips, pita chips, plantain chips and others. Crackers are also sometimes used, as are crudités, which are whole or sliced raw vegetables. Various types of dips are used to accompany various types of chips. The dish may be served as a party dish, appetizer, hors d'oeuvre, or snack.

<i>Carrozza</i> (sandwich) Italian dish

A carrozza, also referred to as mozzarella in carrozza, is a type of fried cheese sandwich or pastry in Italian cuisine. It is prepared by coating a mozzarella cheese sandwich in egg and flour, and frying it. It is a popular dish in the Campania region of Italy and in areas of New York City. Mozzarella fritta is a variation of the dish that consists of battered cheese, without any bread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morcón (Filipino cuisine)</span> Filipino braised beef roulade

Morcón or morconito, is a Philippine braised beef roulade made with beef flank steak stuffed with hard-boiled eggs, carrots, pickled cucumber, cheese, and various sausages. It is commonly served during Christmas and other festive occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumpiang keso</span> Filipino deep-fried crêpe-wrapped cheese

Lumpiang keso is a Filipino deep-fried appetizer consisting of a stick of cheese wrapped in a thin egg crêpe. It is more commonly known as cheese sticks, cheese lumpia, or cheese turon. It is usually served warm and crispy, with a dipping sauce made from a mixture of banana ketchup and mayonnaise. It can also be served with garlic mayonnaise or sweet chili sauce.

References

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Bibliography