Flamed Cheese (Queso Flameado)

Ingredients

• 8 ounces asadero or Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated
• 4 ounces panela cheese, or additional asadero or Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated
• 1 or 2 fresh serranos, chopped
• 1 pound cooked chorizo (optional)
• Flour or corn tortillas, warmed
• 1 or 2 favorite salsas

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place a shallow baking dish in the oven to warm for about 5 minutes.
3. Remove the heated dish from the oven.
4. Sprinkle the cheeses evenly in the dish, then top it with the chile and chorizo.
5. Place the dish in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted through and bubbly.
6. Serve immediately, accompanied with tortillas and salsa.

Notes

Alternately, you may cook the dish over a single layer of charcoal coals after the coals have died down to the point that they are covered in gray and white ash.

Variations:

Omit chiles and chorizo, and top the cheeses with toasted sesame seeds.

Omit chiles and chorizo, and drizzle adobo sauce from canned chipotles over the cheeses.