Top 8 Substitutes for Cotija Cheese

There are just some ingredients that you always forget to get from the store, and Cotija cheese happens to be one of them. It’s not an everyday-use item, so most households do not have this cheese in the Kitchen Pantry.

So, if a recipe calls for the use of Cotija cheese and doesn’t have it available, then don’t panic! Substituting the Cotija cheese with its perfect alternative is the right fix!

Every cheese has a texture and taste of its own, so each of them serves a different culinary purpose. Here we will explore the characteristics of the Cotija Cheese and will learn how those are replaceable!

By analyzing the source, processing method, age, taste, and texture of the Cotija cheese, you can easily find its best substitute. Some of the Cotija cheese alternatives include Feta, Queso Fresco, Parmesan, Romano, Ricotta Salata, Anejo, Padano, Cottage Cheese. Let’s find out which is the best substitute for Cotija Cheese.

What is Cotija Cheese?

Cotija Cheese, or as the Mexicans call it, “Queso Cotija de Montaña,” is a dry, salty, and firm cheese with a grainy and crumbly texture. It is a Mexican cheese that is prepared using cow’s milk. This cheese is saltier than other cheeses, but that also makes this cheese more shelf-stable than others.  The cheese is seasonal, and it is produced in a limited amount from July to October. Another great thing about the Cotija Cheese is an Artisan cheese as it is handmade.

The milk used for the making of this cheese comes from the cows that are fed on the grass grown during the rainy season in the mountains. It is for this reason; their milk gives such a rich and unique cheese. It also gives the cheese its name, “Queso Cotija De Montana”- which means Cotija Cheese of the Mountains.

How Can You Replace Cotija Cheese?

During the production of the Cotija cheese, the milk curd is milled into small pieces, and then they are pressed together. This step gives the Cotija cheese its characteristic crumbly texture. The unique white color of the cheese comes from the aging process.  During cooking, the cheese softens but does not lose its consistency. When eaten raw, the Cotija cheese breaks into grains or sand-like texture. While substituting the Cotija cheese, we must keep those characteristics in mind.

Uses of Cotija Cheese in Cooking

The Cotija cheese comes in large and small round blocks which can be grated and crumbled to add to the variety of recipes like:

• Tacos
• Beans
• Salads
• Soups
• Burritos
• Elote
• And tostadas etc

The 8 Great Substitutes for Cotija Cheese

If you are wondering about the cheeses that can best replace Cotija Cheese in a recipe, then here few great choices for you to try:

1. Queso Fresco

If you are looking for a Cotija Cheese substitute for elote (Mexican Corn on the Cob), tacos, or enchiladas, then Queso Fresco is the right option.  Its name Queso Fresco literally means Fresh cheese, which means it is not aged for long, so it has a soft and fresh texture with a light taste.  It is processed out of a mixture of cow and goat milk.

This cheese is particularly popular in Mexican cuisine. It is not as salty as the Cotija cheese and has a mild, milky taste which makes it a healthy and delicious substitute for Cotija cheese.

2. Feta Cheese

Feta is a form of brined white cheese, and it is processed out of sheep and goat’s milk. It appears yellowish-white in color and carries a soft texture with a salty and tangy taste. Another characteristic of feta cheese that resembles Cotija cheese is its grainy and crumbly texture.  So, you can use feta cheese as a great substitute for Cotija cheese in salad, pastries, and to make pies.

4. Parmesan Cheese

Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan cheese is another great substitute for Cotija cheese, especially for salad toppings and garnishes. It is a sharp and hard cheese. Its texture is, therefore, slightly different from the Cotija Cheese, but you can fix that by using the grated Parmesan cheese in your recipes. During processing the cheese is left to age for considerably longer duration; that is why it develops a strong taste and a slightly off-white color.  Parmesan cheese is processed out of the mixture of cow and goat milk.

4. Ricotta Salata

Ricotta Salata is an Italian substitute for Cotija Cheese.  It is processed out of sheep’s milk. The whey is salted, pressed, and then aged for over 90 days. It can be used as a good replacement for Cotija cheese because it is equally salty in taste. It has the same milky white color, but the texture is a little hard. This cheese is particularly suitable for salads. You can grate, slice or crumble this cheese to substitute Cotija cheese in salads, pizza toppings, tacos, etc.

3. Romano Cheese

Romano cheese is another good substitute for Cotija cheese due to its salty flavor. It has a hard texture, so you can grate it before adding it to different recipes.  This cheese is made out of a combination of cow, goat, and sheep milk. It contains 38 percent fat and 34 percent water content. So, you can use it as a low-fat alternative to Cotija cheese. This cheese comes in three different varieties:

• Vacchiano Romano: Sourced from cow milk, it has a mild flavor.
• Pecorino Romano: Sourced from sheep milk, this cheese has a sharp and tangy flavor.
• Caprino Romano: Sourced from goat milk, this has an extremely sharp flavor.

6. Anejo Cheese

The word Anejo literally means “aged” in Mexican. It is a firm goat milk cheese that is aged for a long duration to get the sharp, salty flavor. It is more like Parmesan or Romano cheese in taste. When fresh, it can be crumbled into smaller pieces. Once matured, the cheese can be shredded and grated easily to add to enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. The hard and aged Anejo can also make a great grilling or baking cheese. 

7. Padano Cheese

Padano is another Italian cheese that you can use to replace Cotija cheese in a recipe. It is produced from unpasteurized semi-skimmed cow’s milk, so the cheese has a crumbly texture, much like the texture of the Cotija Cheese. Unlike Cotija, it has a mildly sweet and less-concentrated taste. This grated cheese is suitable for sandwiches and pies.

8. Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese is a fresh cheese which is also known as whey or curd. It is not aged, unlike Cotija or other cheese in this list. It is simply made by draining the loose curd. It can be easily prepared at home. So, I find this cheese an easy solution to replace Cotija. It is soft, crumbly, and white in color.

You can add the cotija cheese to salads, soups, dips, and casseroles, etc. it is a low-calorie substitute for Cotija Cheese and healthier than the rest of the options discussed above.

Table: Substitutes for Cotija Cheese

The following table draws a comparison between the characteristics of Cotija Cheese and its substitutes:

Frequently Asked Questions