125 fried cheese recipes

Tacos de requeson: corn tortillas stuffed with ricotta cheese, fried golden and crisp, then filled with a tangy lime-radish-cilantro salsa. A traditional Mexican street food you can make at home.

Saganaki: Greek flaming kasseri cheese pan-fried in butter, deglazed with lemon juice and cognac, and lit at the table for an "Opa!" tableside appetizer.

Traditional Greek moussaka with layers of fried eggplant, potatoes, and ground beef topped with a nutmeg-spiced bechamel sauce with Romano cheese.

Hot and spicy baked chicken wings coated in a tomato-based sauce with red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and jalapenos. No frying needed. Serve with blue cheese and celery.

Calzoni di ricotta are Italian fried half-moon turnovers stuffed with creamy ricotta, diced ham, and provolone, sealed in a lemon-kissed dough and fried golden. A crisp shell, molten cheese center, perfect antipasto or quick lunch.

Blintz muffins blend cottage cheese, sour cream, honey, and orange zest into tender whole wheat bites topped with sliced almonds. All the flavor of a cheese blintz, none of the frying.

Baked penne casserole layered with stir-fried vegetables, spicy pasta sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Fennel seeds and red pepper flakes add warmth to this make-ahead vegetarian bake.

Grilled flank steak rolled with stir-fried cabbage, then wrapped in flatbread with wasabi-ginger cream cheese creates Japanese-fusion pinwheels for elegant entertaining.

Homemade paneer from just milk and lemon juice. Curdle, strain, press overnight, and cut into cubes for frying. The simplest fresh cheese you can make at home.

Soft shell crabs stuffed with cheese, breaded, and baked in tomato sauce until crispy on top and melty inside. A Chesapeake Bay classic that's easier than frying.

Rancheros are stuffed burger patties filled with American cheese and Ortega chiles, double-dipped in buttermilk and cornmeal, fried crispy, and topped with an easy-over egg.

Homemade paneer: the classic Indian fresh cheese made from just milk and vinegar. Pressed into firm cubes, pan-fried golden, and ready for any curry or saag.

Traditional Mexican tortilla soup with fried tortilla strips simmered in a garlicky tomato broth with chili powder, topped with grated cheese. Simple, warming, and ready in 45 minutes.

Oven-baked French toast made with blended cottage cheese, skim milk, and egg whites on whole wheat bread. A lighter, protein-packed brunch that skips the frying pan entirely.

Sopa de elote is a creamy Mexican corn soup made from pureed corn simmered in milk with sweet and hot peppers. Garnished with fried tortilla strips and crumbled cheese.

Easy crab rangoon mixes crab meat with cream cheese, sour cream, and garlic powder, then deep-fries the parcels in wonton wrappers until golden. The classic takeout appetizer made at home in 30 minutes.