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Cotija cheese

Cotija is a firm, salty Mexican cow’s-milk cheese, commonly aged and crumbly for grating or crumbling over foods rather than melting.

Cotija cheese — illustrative ingredient image

About Cotija cheese

Cotija is a firm, salty Mexican cheese traditionally made from cow’s milk. It is commonly sold in aged, crumbly forms and is grated or crumbled over foods, where it contributes a pronounced savoury, tangy flavour. Its texture ranges from somewhat firm to dry and crumbly with age.

The name is also used for younger, moister versions, which can be easier to slice or crumble and may taste less sharp. Cotija is typically used as a finishing cheese rather than a melting cheese. Products vary by age, moisture, and production method, so the name alone does not specify one exact texture.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where cotija cheese appears

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Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for cotija cheese

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Cotija cheese

English

Cheese, cotija, solid

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Cotija cheese nutrition & diet

Cotija cheese nutritional value

Cheese, mexican, queso cotija

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded USDA food form.

Calories
366kcal
Protein
20.0g
Carbs
4.0g
Fat
30.0g

Reference values for the displayed USDA form. Varieties, brands and preparation can differ.

Aged, drier Cotija and younger, moister versions differ in water and salt concentration; compare products of similar age and form.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central — Cheese, mexican, queso cotija ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .