What is it?

Cotija is an aged, crumbly, slightly salty Mexican cheese traditionally made from cow’s milk. The texture is somewhat akin to feta, and the cheese is excellent in pasta and salads, or as a garnish for tacos, quesadillas, and refried beans. Or serve Mexican-style corn on the cob by brushing grilled ears of corn with mayonnaise, then rolling them in crumbled cotija cheese and sprinkling with chile powder. Look for cotija in Latin American grocery stores.

Don’t have it?

Feta cheese is the best substitute.

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Recipes

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  Recipe

  Green Cabbage Salad with Spiced Pepitas

  Cilantro, lime, and chili powder give this crisp salad a Mexican flavor. Toss in some Cotija, a crumbly cow’s milk cheese, and you’ve got the ultimate taco topping.

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  Recipe

  Carne Asada Tacos

  Often featured in fajitas, skirt steak is perfect for tacos, too. Because of the meat’s striations, it slices into bits that have the perfect amount of tenderness, chew, and caramelized…

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  Moveable Feast

  Lobster and Chorizo Queso Fundido

  Making your own chorizo is easier than you might imagine. Chef Saad likes the smoky, dried-cherry-like flavor that guajillo chiles add to the meat mixture, as well as the clean…

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  Recipe

  Grilled Corn on the Cob with Spicy Mayo, Lime, and Cheese

  In Mexico, grilled corn on the cob covered with a smoky mayonnaise and rolled in crumbly cheese is a popular street food. This version packs a similar flavorful punch and…

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  Recipe

  Simple and Delicious Enchiladas

  This fruity and spicy dried red chile sauce, made with dried New Mexico and ancho chiles, turns ordinary corn tortillas and a few drizzles of sour cream into a feast.…

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  Recipe

  Spicy Chorizo and Egg Tostadas

  Tostadas are fried corn tortillas mounded with tasty toppings. This recipe offers an oven-toasting method as an alternative to frying—it’s quick, easy, and produces crisp, great-tasting results. Serve these fully…

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  Recipe

  Mexican Grilled Corn on the Cob

  Called elote in Mexico, where it’s a popular street food, this grilled corn on the cob is slathered in a smoky, zesty mayonnaise and then rolled in crumbly, slightly salty…

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  Recipe

  Chicken Soup with Lime and Hominy

  This is a quick and easy version of sopa de lima, a comforting yet refreshing Yucatan chicken soup made tangy with fresh lime juice. Tasty garnishes include fried tortilla strips…

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  Recipe

  Chicken Quesadillas with Chipotle Crema & Pico de Gallo

  It’s worth seeking out a variety of Mexican cheeses for a more complex flavor; you can find them online at Igourmet.com. It’s also perfectly fine to use an equal amount of…

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  Recipe

  Steak with Three-Chile Sauce

  For this dish, the earthy combination of three of Mexico’s most distinctive chiles creates a nuanced result that is not nearly as hot as you might expect. Much of the…