Named after the town of Cotija, Michoacán where it originated, Cotija cheese has a strong, salty flavor and mostly used as a topping or mixed into sauces. Traditionally, Cotija is made with cow’s milk and is a seasonal cheese produced by artisan cheese makers living high in the mountains. Cotija rates as one of Mexico’s most recognized cheeses.
Flavor Profile
Robust, strong-flavored aged cheese, with a dry, salty and notorious granular texture. Resembling in flavor to parmesan or feta.
How To Use
Cotija is an enhancer. Take your dishes to the next level by crumbling or grating over pinto beans, tacos, or soups where you'd like to add a bit of saltiness and tang in flavor. Cotija does not melt.
VIEW NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION VIEW NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
90
CALORIES
SERVING SIZE: 1 oz (28g)
TOTAL FAT: 7g
TOTAL CARB: 0g
SERVINGS: 10
SAT FAT: 5g
FIBER: 0g
CALORIES: 90
TRANS FAT: 0g
SUGARS: 0g
CHOLEST.: 25mg
PROTEIN: 6g
SODIUM: 490mg
Vitamin D 0%, Calcium 15%, Iron 0%, Potassium 0%
INGREDIENTS: CULTURED PASTEURIZED GRADE A MILK AND SKIM MILK, SEA SALT AND ENZYMES. CONTAINS MILK.
FAQs
Queso Fresco
An unaged, white cheese, it is similar to Cotija cheese due to its soft yet firm texture. Queso fresco crumbles easily, making it a great topping for salads, sprinkled on beans, or as a garnish for enchiladas.
What cheese is closest to cotija? ›
Queso Fresco
An unaged, white cheese, it is similar to Cotija cheese due to its soft yet firm texture. Queso fresco crumbles easily, making it a great topping for salads, sprinkled on beans, or as a garnish for enchiladas.
What does cotija mean in Mexican? ›
Cotija (/ˌkoʊˈtiːxə/, koh-TEE-khə) is an aged Mexican cheese made from cow's milk and named after the town of Cotija, Michoacán. White in color and firm in texture, its flavor is salty and milky.
Is cotija just parmesan? ›
One of Mexico's most famous cheeses, cotija is a semi-hard, slightly aged cheese with the crumbly texture of parmesan but a stronger, saltier flavor. Try as you might, cotija cheese won't melt, so it's sprinkled or crumbled on everything from soups and salads to tacos and tostadas.
What is going on with cacique cheese? ›
Cacique Foods LLC
The business sold a minority stake in 2021 to Boston-based hedge fund The Baupost Group and this year shifted its headquarters from Monrovia to Irving, Texas. CEO Gil de Cardenas and the rest of the Cardenas family remain majority owners.
Can I use queso fresco instead of cotija? ›
Despite all their differences, you can absolutely substitute one for the other. Both add a welcome creamy element to food, but cotija tends to be more easily found in stores. Keep in mind that cotija will be a bit saltier than queso, so depending on the application of the cheese or your taste, you may want to use less.
What can I substitute for cotija cheese in Mexican street corn? ›
Best overall substitute: Feta cheese is the best like-for-like substitute for cotija cheese. You can use it exactly as you would use cotija (either as a filling or garnish). It has a very similar crumbly texture, salty and mild flavor, and can be found at most local grocery stores.
Does cotija go bad? ›
Packaged cotija cheese typically comes with a 'best by' or 'use by' date printed on its packaging, which is usually about 6 months from its production day given it's still sealed. Once you've opened the package, the cheese should stay fresh for about 2 to 3 weeks if stored properly.
Do you grate or crumble cotija cheese? ›
While Cotija will soften with heat, it doesn't melt, making it most suited for crumbling and sprinkling. Of course, it's most frequently in Mexican cooking—you might see it as a finishing flourish on enchiladas, nachos, tacos, chilaquiles, or posole.
What happened to cotija cheese? ›
On January 11, 2024, Rizo-López Foods, Inc. recalled the aged cotija cheese product after Hawaii state officials found Listeria in it. On February 6, 2024, Rizo-López Foods, Inc. recalled all cheese and other dairy products made in their facility.
Cacique conquered the west coast. But about six years ago, De Cardenas started thinking California was constraining the company's growth. They were getting interest from grocery chains as far away as Florida, New York and Michigan.
What brands of Cotija cheese are recalled? ›
Recalled Products
Product Description | Brand | Sell or Use By Dates |
---|
Cotija | Rizo Bros | All dates through 07/31/2024 |
Cotija | Tio Francisco | All dates through 07/31/2024 |
Cotija | Tio Francisco | All dates through 7/31/2024 |
Cotija | Food City | All dates through 07/31/2024 |
67 more rowsFeb 6, 2024
What happened to Cacique brand? ›
Cacique Foods, the maker of a leading brand of authentic Mexican-style cheeses, cremas, chorizos and salsas in the United States, this week announced that it has ceased operations at its dairy factory in City of Industry, California, and is relocating its dairy production to its new state-of-the-art facility in ...
Is cotija a mozzarella? ›
Cotija is in the parmesan cheese family and, fun fact, it's even referred to as “the parmesan of Mexico.”
What is a good substitute for queso fresco? ›
Queso fresco is available at some supermarkets and at Mexican grocers. Feta cheese makes a good substitute. Opt for a mild one if you can, or soak a block of feta in fresh water to tone down its tanginess. A young ricotta salata (firm Italian cheese sold at most supermarkets) will also work.
What is queso fresco cheese? ›
Queso fresco is a Mexican cheese whose name literally means “fresh cheese.” Queso fresco is a type of queso blanco, or white cheese, made from cow's milk alone or from a combination of cow and goat milk, and acidified with rennet, lemon juice, or vinegar.