garlic + mushroom queso fundido

It’s official: I cannot be trusted around cheese.
It doesn’t matter, really, what kind of cheese it is — soft, hard, shredded, string, stinky, mild, sharp — it all comes into play. But if it’s warm and gooey and melty like what you see above, I’m especially unruly. Come within three feet of me and my queso fundido and I might have to fight you. Just saying. It’s a tough world out there, and this girl’s got to protect her cheese.


I cannot believe I’d never made queso fundido (which means, quite appropriately, “melted cheese”) before in my own kitchen, because I go crazy for the stuff at Mexican restaurants. Admittedly (since I no longer have any shame in sharing what my favorite foods are), one of my favorites is the skillet queso at Chili’s. Whoaaaa, nelly — I get a little territorial with that one, too. So when mine eyes happened upon an easysauce recipe for homemade garlic and mushroom queso fundido, I wasted no time in getting that dip on my table and into my cheesemonger belly.
People, this stuff couldn’t be easier to make. Basically, sauteing the mushrooms, onions and garlic is the most difficult and time-consuming part of the recipe, and that takes about 10 minutes, no sweat. The rest of the time you watch the cheese melt and bubble and brown in the oven until it turns into an ooey-gooey masterpiece. And unless you have the patience of a saint (read: not me), you can rejoice because this dish takes approximately 20 minutes to come together in total.

Sprinkle it with cilantro, serve it with sour cream, salsa or guacamole, share it with friends or eat the whole thing before your husband gets home, whatever… it’s all good.

CHEESE.
Garlic and Mushroom Queso Fundido
Recipe adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped red or yellow onion
1 cup sliced white mushrooms
4 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Directions:
Heat oven to 425 degrees F. In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic and cook until mushrooms have released all their liquid, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; stir in thyme, cayenne pepper and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Top with half of the mushroom mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; top with remaining mushroom mixture. Place pie plate in the oven and bake until cheese is melted, browned and bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Serve immediately.
Im a recent mushroom convert and I can barely get enough of them now! This sounds incredible!!
a cheesy garlic dip?! I’m so all over this. ๐
hi i also love cheese have control my myself when it comes to cheese>> this girl here has to protect her cheese when there is a gathering i almost run straight to the cheese table every thing else falls into place>>LOVE MY CHEESE KIND OF GAL>> this beautiful good looking cheese dish this is must for me to make >>> yummie
I think we need a club and we should serve this at every meeting ; )
This was a very dangerous recipe to give me. I’m OBSESSED with cheese. Like. I should probably go to meetings for how much I love cheese. Can’t wait to try this out ๐
This is almost the same recipe I use when I want a cheese feast for one! I had no idea it was mexican. Who can say no to that melting pot of love? For dipping I love to use a combination of chips, pita and fruits.
I could just dunk myself in that cheese right nowโฆ.delish!
Alaina — I hated them growing up but now I’m so glad I love them because they are delicious! ๐ Thank you!
Rachel — Oh yes, yes indeed. ๐ Thanks!
Diane — Love my cheese, too! ๐ Thanks!
Paula — AGREED. Let’s make that happen. ๐
Kelly — You and me both; I need an intervention, too! After I finish this dip, of course ๐
Belinda — I should try pita and fruits next time; that sounds delicious! Thanks!
Jessica — Totally had to stop myself from face planting in this. ๐ Thanks, lady!
I can’t be trusted around cheese – specifically cheese dip. This looks so good!