Quesillo

This is the official cheese of Oaxaca. It is a semi-hard, unaged cheese that is similar to good mozzarella and has the texture of string cheese. In Oaxaca, it is usually very finely shredded and used as a melting cheese for empanadas and tlayudas. It is made from unpasteurized milk there, giving it a salty, briny flavor. “Queso Oaxaca” is the American version of quesillo, though the texture is more like a Monterey Jack.