The Health Benefits of Cheese on Your Mexican Grill
Cheese is delicious. We believe that it is one of the greatest gifts of nature. Cheese fills everyone’s heart with joy, delight in the mouth and goodness in the soul. That’s probably one of the reasons you’ll likely find at your local Mexican grill dedicated employees and workers gathered in the kitchen to hand-grate lots of fresh, delicious, and nutritious Cotija cheese. Lots of it! Mountains of it, even.
On the Mexican grill they grate enough cotija cheese for the Pied Piper to lose control of his mice. And the Pied Piper won’t let those mice eat all his cheese. Why? Not just because of the superior qualities of the cheese mentioned above, although that clearly has a lot to do with it. But the real reason cotija cheese is a beloved staple on the Mexican grill is because cotija is among the best cheeses possible.
We know it is a bold statement. It is difficult to take it literally when there are so many other cheeses available, in all kinds of cultures and all kinds of foods. Even grilled Mexican food occasionally includes other types of cheese, though we suspect it’s a somewhat grudging sort of foray into the world of non-beauty-and-perfection cheeses that Cotija is more than happy to bring to the table. table.
So why is cotija the most superior cheese? Why “Mexico’s Parmesan” (but much better than Parm in our opinion!) Still?
Cotija is a ridiculously tasty, crumbly, salty milk cow’s cheese named after the city of Cotija in Mexico. It’s a classic south-of-the-border ingredient, loved for its spicy zipper and unique texture. It is known as mountain cheese, because its producers live and cheeses high in the mountains. And from there it also gets its flavor and color: the milk that cotija makes comes directly to us from the cows that have been chewing on the rich mountain grass that only grows during the short rainy season.
It has a strong flavor, is great for grating, and is found in many Mexican grilled dishes (as appropriate). From salads to soups, from tacos to tostadas, everything is enhanced by the magic of cotija. Best of all, and perhaps why the Pied Piper has the stamina to keep chasing mice, cotija cheese is so much more than just a delicious taste – it’s good for you, too.
Like most dairy products, cotija is a great source of protein that we need to build our heart and other muscle tissue and stay healthy. Just a one-ounce serving gives you 7 grams of protein, or a whopping 14 percent of your recommended daily amount of protein. Even better, cotija has a lot of calcium for bone building. And if you are diabetic or on one of those low carb diets, it is important to note that cotija is also low in carbohydrates. So get behind the Piper in the closest row Mexican grill to enjoy how cotija can give your taste buds a real blow.