Cotija Cheese is popular in Mexican cuisines. It is made from Cow’s milk aged between 4 months up to a year. If you are cooking any Mexican recipe/dish or any other cuisine and you run out of it, you can use Cotija Cheese substitute. Substitutes have a tendency to give an almost similar flavor to the original ingredient in a recipe. Using a substitute in a recipe/dish wouldn’t ruin your whole food while it would give the flavor you expect from an original ingredient.
Before going ahead to know about Cotija Cheese substitutes, you have to know about Cotija Cheese so that you can choose the best substitute for your recipe/dish accordingly.
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What is Cotija Cheese, Actually?
Cotija Cheese is dry and crumbly in texture made from cow’s milk. The name Cotija was derived from the town in Mexico name as Cotija de la Paz. It can be easily found in your nearby grocery stores. You can add it to your salad and layer it on a burger or you can garnish your chili recipe.
Nutrient Profile of Cotija Cheese:
| Nutritional Data | Per Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1 oz (28g) | |
| Calories | 120 | |
| Fat Calories | 90 | |
| Total Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 6.5g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 280mg | 10% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 0g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugars | 1g | |
| Protein | 7g | |
| Serving Size | 100 g |
What can I Substitute for Cotija Cheese?
Cooking a recipe without proper ingredients may annoy you. We can understand your feelings. Running out of an ingredient or not having it on your kitchen shelves or in the refrigerator may cause you anxiety sometimes. Nowadays every ingredient has its substitutes. You can use these substitutes in place of the original ingredient. You don’t need to worry, it won’t ruin the recipe/dish and give you a far more similar taste profile to the original one. Here, we have a huge list of substitutes for Cotija Cheese for you. You can choose accordingly what you have in your kitchen/pantry/refrigerator right now.
1. Cotija Molido:
Cotija Molido is a variety of Cotija Cheese that is finely grounded. If you don’t want to chop cheese finely for your recipe/dish, you can use Cotija Molido as a sub for Cotija Cheese. It’s the only option that is similar to Cotija Cheese. This substitute can be seen on pizza, in soups, and in pasta dishes/recipes.
2. Queso Fresco:
Queso Fresco is a Spanish name that means “Fresh Cheese”. This cheese has similar properties that make it a suitable choice to use as a Cotija Cheese alternative. It’s the most popular cheese in Mexican cuisine. Gourmet Sleuth refers to it as a more acidic cheese. Queso Fresco is sprinkled over dishes such as tacos and salad. It is very similar to Cotija and can be used in the same ratio as Cotija Cheese. As you know, it is acidic in nature, but the mild flavor of Queso Fresco wouldn’t change the taste of the recipe/dish you are preparing.
3. Feta Cheese:
Feta Cheese is made from Goat’s or Sheep’s milk. It is one of the crumbly textured cheeses that has a semi-salty flavor available in the market and can be used in multiple recipes/dishes. You can find it easily in grocery stores. Nowadays, Feta Cheese is used in almost everything from Mediterranean salads to pasta, to artisan pizzas. It replicates a similar flavor to Cotija. If you don’t have Feta Cheese in your pantry or refrigerator, you can choose another Cotija Cheese replacement from the list.
4. Goat Cheese Crumbles:
As you can guess from its name, it is made from Goat’s milk. It is another salt-forward cheese that can easily replicate the flavor of Cotija Cheese. This cheese is pretty common and easily available in stores. Before picking up the Goat Cheese, be sure to choose the dryer and crumbled variety, not the soft variety which is usually sold in a log. You can use Goat Cheese in the same amount of cotija cheese in a recipe/dish.
5. Parmesan Cheese:
Parmesan Cheese can be used as a replacement for Cotija Cheese. It has a stronger flavor that mimics the flavor of aged Cotija Cheese. Parmesan makes the best substitute for Cotija on Mexican street corn.
6. Romano Cheese:
Romano Cheese is also known as Pecorino Romano in the United States and Canada. The origin of Romano Cheese is Italy. It is produced from Sheep’s milk specifically. Nowadays, Pecorino Romano can be made from cow’s and goat’s milk. When talking about its appearance, it is not as white as Cotija but has a salty flavor with a crumbly texture. It is perfect to use in Hispanic dishes for aroma and flavor and also works perfectly with Parmesan cheese.
7. Ricotta Salata:
Ricotta Salata is also made from Goat’s and Sheep’s milk. It has some variants that are made from Cow’s milk. The most popular variant of Ricotta Salata in Italy is made from water buffalo milk whey. It comes with a more distinct flavor, texture, and aroma. The taste of Ricotta Salata is different and more on the sweeter side, but it maintains a little bit of saltiness which makes it perfect for replacing Cotija. You can’t tell any other difference than it’s a bit sweeter than Cotija.
8. Anejo:
Anejo means old or aged in Spanish. It’s actually known as Queso Anejo. This cheese goes through a maturing process that firms its texture making it crumble and shred. Anejo Cheese is usually made out of goat’s milk but has now been made from cow’s milk. It has the same texture and same salty flavor as Cotija Cheese which makes it a good substitute.
9. Grana Padano:
Grana Padano is a crowd-pleasing cheese that is made from Italian Cow’s milk. It is aged 9 months at least. The less salty taste and less pungy don’t mean it can’t replace Cotija Cheese. This cheese has a crystal-like appearance as well as texture with a smooth creamier finish. It has a more subtle flavor than Cotija which makes it a great sub for Cotija Cheese.
10. Wensleydale:
Wensleydale Cheese was introduced in North Yorkshire, England, and manufactured in high quantity due to its high market demand. The appearance is white in color but has the same texture as the Cotija Cheese. The taste of Wensleydale mimics some Ricotta Cheese flavor which is sweeter and savory. The sweet-smelling honey scent makes it highly aromatic. You can use this substitute in many Hispanic recipes/dishes. It is flexible to use with other cheese if you want.
11. Gorwydd Caerphilly:
Gorwydd Caerphilly is known as Caerphilly Cheese. This is another crumbly cheese that is similar to Cotija Cheese. It has more moisture and a creamier texture and taste than other white crumbly cheeses. You may find a variety of options and pick from a very moist to a very dry variety of Caerphilly Cheese. It has a little bit of salty and tangy flavor that works perfectly with salsas, chilis, enchiladas, and stews. The aroma is good for those who don’t like strong cheeses.
12. Cottage Cheese:
Cottage Cheese is moister and softer than Cotija Cheese. It is the freshest cheese in this list we have shown here. Cottage Cheese is made through the same process as Mozzarella Cheese. It’s creamy and semi-sweet in taste. It is consumed well when it is fresh. You may get confused between Ricotta and Cottage Cheese due to the loss of resemblance. It contains low calories which means that you can add this cheese to your daily diet routine. This is one of the healthiest subs for Cotija Cheese.
13. Taleggio:
Taleggio Cheese is made from Cow’s milk and it’s either raw or pasteurized. It takes 40 days and more time to complete the fermentation process then it’s ready for consumption. According to its appearance, it’s slightly red in color and has a different texture than the Cotija Cheese. You don’t need to worry about its taste. Taleggio has a similar taste to Cotija which makes it a perfect substitute for Cotija Cheese. Its soft nature makes it a perfect substitute for warm and gooey dishes/recipes.
14. Red Fox:
Red Fox Cheese is totally different in texture as well as in color. It’s not crumbly as Cotija Cheese. This cheese can be counted in a variety of Cheddar Cheese with a complex sweet, savory and salty flavor. You can easily shred it as a topping on nachos and tacos. If you don’t have semi-hard cheese, you can use Red Fox Cheese instead.
15. Vegan Cotija:
There are a lot of vegan cheese options available in the market. If you don’t like to consume dairy products or any milk-based cheese, you can easily use Vegan Cotija Cheese in your recipe/dish. We know the best Vegan Cotija Cheese you may find in your nearby stores named Tofu Cotija and Almond Cotija Cheese. You can also try to make Vegan Cotija Cheese at home from almonds using olive oil brine, salt, and lemon.
16. Tofu Cotija:
Are you allergic to nuts? Don’t worry. Still, you can use Vegan Cotija Cheese in your recipe. Tofu Cotija Cheese is perfect for you to make your recipe/dish delicious on your own. You can recreate that tangy punch of Cotija with Tofu, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, and some salt. You can easily get the Crumbly texture of Tofu Cheese similar to Cotija by using Cheesecloth.
17. Violife:
You can use Violife just like Parmesan in place of Cotija Cheese. It mimics the saltiness and crumbly consistency of Cotija Cheese. Violife is a popular vegan food brand that makes this cheese with potato starch as well as rice starch. It is a one-to-one replacement for Cotija Cheese.
18. Caprino Romano:
Caprino Romano is another cheese similar to Cotija. It is made from goat’s milk traditionally, but you may find in the market a mix of goat and cow milk nowadays. Caprino Romano cheese comes in both aged and fresh varieties. Not both varieties can perfectly replace Cotija Cheese. The aged one is punchy and salty which makes it a perfect alternative to cotija cheese.
19. Vacchino Romano:
Vacchino Romano is sharp and salty with a slightly tangy flavor. The taste is a little stronger than Cotija. It is similar to parmesan and made from cow’s milk. Neither Romano nor Parmesan has a quite punchiness of Cotija. Both work perfectly with meat and pasta dishes/recipes as final ingredients.
20. Gjetost:
Gjetost is sharp, nutty, and strong, much like Parmesan and Cotija. It’s not ideal for every dish/recipe because it has a sweet caramel flavor almost a butterscotch flavor. We suggest you use it wisely.
FAQ:-
What is the flavor of Cotija Cheese?
Cotija Cheese is a cow's milk-based cheese. The name Cotija Cheese was named after the town of the same name in Michoacán state. It is firm and dry in texture when it comes to the taste, it gives a little bit of salty and milky flavor.
Is Mexican crumbling cheese is same as Cotija Cheese?
Mexican Cheese is fresh and not dry as Cotija Cheese and Anejo Cheese. It is softer, a bit creamier as well as mild in flavor than the Cotija Cheese.
Now, you know the best Cotija Cheese Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
