Queso fundido

Queso fundido ( for "melted cheese"; also queso flameado, "flamed cheese" or choriqueso) is a  of hot melted cheese and spicy  that is often served. Often compared to, it is a party dish; it is popular at cookouts and in restaurants as an. Almost unique in, in the this dish has been widely adapted and is considered a native dish in. In, it occurs in restaurants more often in the north. Typical main ingredients are melted cheese and a characteristic meat sauce of loose fresh, , , chile and. It is served in a small, shallow 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  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. Either way, the finished dish is presented while it is still bubbling hot, and it is spooned onto small soft tortillas for individual servings.

Queso flameado is said to originate in the borderlands of northern Mexico and the, as a campfire dish.

In restaurants, this dish is sometimes confused or conflated with, a cheese sauce served with s for dipping. The term queso fundido also refers to processed cheese and is defined as such in the Spanish version of.

Variations
Both the cheese and the meat sauce are prepared just before serving, and are served hot. Oaxaca cheese (asadero) and Chihuahua cheese are popular, but other s (cheeses such as whole milk mozzarella, that remain stringy when melted) may be used. Some consider stringy cheese to be an essential part of this dish, but if this quality is not desired then a fresh farmer's cheese or goat cheese is a good alternative. If fresh chorizo is not available, pieces of dry chorizo or another sausage may be used. Common additions are strips of roasted chiles and sautéed mushrooms. For the flambé, popular liquors include, , and. Either type of tortilla, corn or wheat, may be used. In, flour tortillas usually are served only with certain dishes including queso flameado, corn tortillas otherwise being the norm.