Cheese is a very popular ingredients that always makes any recipe even better. There are so many kinds of cheese flavors and variations out in the market all with very distinct tastes and uses. Almost any recipe can be topped of by cheese but in this particular post we will be talking about Cotija Cheese Substitutes.

What is Cotija Cheese

Cotija cheese is a type of cheese that originates form Mexico in a town named Cotija in the state of Michoacán. The name Cotija comes form the town it was named after and its made from cow’s milk  by hand. This cheese has a salty flavor, is soft and crumbly. Cotija cheese has two different textures when its fresh and when it ages, it has another texture.

When fresh, the cheese is salty and when it ages, it become crumbly and hard with a stronger flavor. This type of cheese usually does not melt when heated and is mostly added as a topping but can also be used in the dish.

Does cotija cheese melt? Cotija Cheese does not melt but will soften when heated.

Are you making a recipe that calls for cotija cheese but do not have it at hand, do not worry; here are 15 Cotija Cheese Substitutes you can use instead. All this Cotija Cheese Substitutes will add a similar flavor to Cotija so do not worry about change in taste of the dish you are making.

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What cheese can you substitute for cotija? The closest Cotija Cheese Substitute : Feta cheese is the closest to taste and texture as a Cotija Cheese substitute. Its has similar salty and crumble like texture that Cotija Cheese has. You can use Feta Cheese just like how you would use Cotija Cheese to top off any dish that calls for Cotija Cheese. Also, Feta Cheese is way cheaper than Cotija cheese so this is definitely the winner Cotija Cheese Substitute. Many people also ask ‘is cotija and parmesan the same‘ No, cotija cheese and parmesan cheese are not the same, they are completely different kinds of cheese.

15 Cotija Cheese Substitute

If you are looking for the best Cotija Cheese Substitute, this is the post for you. The best substitute as stated earlier is Feta Cheese but here are more Cotija Cheese Substitutes.

Feta Cheese

Everything about Feta Cheese screams Cotija Cheese. This is the closest Cotija Cheese Substitute on this list as the salty and crumbly texture has a similar resemblance to that of Cotija Cheese. Feta Cheese is also cheaper and available at almost every grocery store and is therefore your closest bet for the best Cotija Cheese Substitute. Just add in the same amount of Feta Cheese in place of Cotija Cheese it the recipe and you are good to go.

Goat cheese crumbles

Goat cheese crumbles is another amazing Cotija Cheese Substitute as it has a crumbly texture just like Cotija and is also salty in taste. Goat Cheese crumbles is made from extracting moisture from goats milk as the name suggests and adding salt to it. Goat cheese crumbles is also a great substitute for Feta cheese and is easy to find.

Queso Fresco 

This is a Mexican cheese and means fresh cheese in Spanish. Queso Fresco is made from cow’s milk and occasionally goats milk and has a mild flavor compared to Cotija but still retains a similar tangy taste as Cotija. This cheese is also crumbly and salty just like Cotija cheese and is an amazing substitute for Cotija Cheese as it is also cheaper but not that easy to find. This is a great cheese topping for enchiladas and salads.

Parmesan

Parmesan cheese is an Italian cheese made from raw cow’s milk and is also another great Cotija Cheese Substitute. This cheese is lactose free and has a crumbly and salty flavor just like Cotija cheese. Easy to find and relatively affordable, this great alternative for cotija.

Añejo

Well there isn’t a better alternative for Cotija cheese other than its aged version! Yes. Añejo is an aged version of cotija cheese made from skimmed cow’s milk. This cheese however is very hard to find so it might not be the best substitute but if you happen to get your hands on it, use slightly less than what the recipe calls for because it has a very and bold taste compared to Cotija.

Romano

Romano is slightly more harder than Cotija Cheese but salty and made from cow’s milk. Does Romano sound familiar? This chees is named after Rome in Italy where it originated from.

Pecorino Romano 

This cheese is similar to Romano cheese but unlike Romano cheese its made from sheep’s milk and is salty and hard. This cheese is aged in the caves for over an year and has very salty, sharp and bold flavor.

Cottage cheese 

Cottage cheese is a very popular cheese that you can also use as a Cotija Cheese Substitute. This cheese is softer in texture because it is a fresh cheese curd that has been drained but not pressed hence why it is soft and moist. This would be best mixed inside the dish rather than used as a topping.

Cotija Molido

This is another variety of Cotija Chees that is grated finely so does not have the same crumbly texture of Cotija Cheese. Its has the same taste and flavor as Cotija cheese and goes great with pizzas and pasta recipe. Use the same amount of Cotija molido as you would Cotija Cheese in your recipe.

Grana Padano 

Grana Padano is a hard Italian made cow’s milk that has been aged cheese. The texture of this cheese is slightly firmer than that of Cotija cheese but has a similar taste profile to that of Cotija. This cheese has a salty and crumbly texture and serves as great Cotija cheese substitute.

Ricotta Salata 

Ricotta Salata is another great Cotija cheese substitute that has a similar taste and texture to Cotija cheese. This cheese is however not that easy to find in grocery stores.

Other amazing Cotija Cheese substitutes

• Wensleydale
• Taleggio
• Red Fox
• Gorwydd Caerphilly
• Tofu Cotija

Make your own cotija cheese! 

You can always make your own Cotija Cheese at home if you have the time. It might sound complicated but its not a hard process .

FAQs 

Is cotija cheese just parmesan?

No, they are different kinds of cheese.

Is mozzarella similar to cotija?

Mozzarella is less flavorful compared to Cotija Cheese and is more softer texture.

Why is it called cotija cheese?

Cotija cheese is named after a town in Mexico called Cotija.

Does cotija cheese melt? 

Cotija softens does not melt when heated.