Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo)
Also known as: Quesillo
Oaxacan string cheese, also known as quesillo. Similar to mozzarella, it shreds and melts easily. Essential in quesadillas, tlayudas and stuffed chillies.
Estimated retail price
~£8.99 / 250g
Typical price at UK Mexican grocers
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How it's used in Mexican cooking
Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo), part of the dairy section of the Mexican pantry, appears in more than 20 recipes in our collection, including Courgette Flower Quesadillas, Birria Tacos (Quesabirria) and Cheese-Stuffed Chillies. Each recipe shows step by step how it is added, in what quantity and which other ingredients it is paired with — the most reliable guide to how it is actually used in Mexican cooking.
Recipes with Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo)
Street FoodCourgette Flower Quesadillas
TacosBirria Tacos (Quesabirria)
StewsCheese-Stuffed Chillies
StewsChilli Strips in Cream
TamalesChilli and Cheese Tamales
Street FoodOaxacan Tlayudas
StewsSquash with Corn (Calabacitas con Elote)
Street FoodPuebla-Style Sandwich
Street FoodOaxacan Memelas
Street FoodSincronizadas (Mexican Pressed Tortilla Sandwich)
Street FoodHuitlacoche Quesadillas (Corn Truffle)
Street FoodChimichangas (Crispy Fried Burritos)
Street FoodQueso Fundido (Melted Cheese with Chorizo)
MeatsTasajo Oaxaqueno (Oaxacan Salt-Cured Beef)
TacosQuesabirria (Crispy Birria Cheese Tacos)
Street FoodItacates
Street FoodMolletes with Chorizo
Street FoodFried Quesadillas
TamalesOaxacan Tamales with Pepper Strips and Cheese
Street FoodTinga Quesadillas
Storage and substitutes
How to store it
Keep cheese refrigerated and well wrapped, ideally in waxed paper or a container that lets it breathe. Fresh cheeses (panela, queso fresco) last only a few days once opened, while aged ones such as cotija or añejo keep considerably longer.
Substitutes
Common stand-ins outside Mexico: Oaxaca cheese is closest to fresh mozzarella, cotija to aged feta or Parmesan, and queso fresco to a mild white cheese. Not identical, but they work in most recipes.
Frequently asked questions
How many recipes use Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo)?
Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo) is used in more than 20 recipes in our collection, such as Courgette Flower Quesadillas and Birria Tacos (Quesabirria). The full list, with a photo and link for each recipe, is on this page.
Where can I buy Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo) in the UK?
You can buy Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo) online via the Amazon link on this page, or look for it at Latin American grocers in the UK.
How should Oaxaca Cheese (Quesillo) be stored?
Keep cheese refrigerated and well wrapped, ideally in waxed paper or a container that lets it breathe. Fresh cheeses (panela, queso fresco) last only a few days once opened, while aged ones such as cotija or añejo keep considerably longer.
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