Roasted Red Pepper Cotija Cheese Dip

Tis’ the season for ALL the appetizers and let me tell you this Roasted Red Pepper Queso Cotija Cheese Dip, checks off all the boxes. It is easy to make, it’s creamy…cheesy, salty and has a little heat. Loaded with charred roasted red peppers topped with a drizzle of EVOO, all you’re going to need is some crackers and a glass of wine or your favorite cocktail! This is a great appetizer because not only does it look super elegant, it is full of flavor and comes together quickly, you can even make it ahead of time and serve it when you’re ready to party. This holiday season I’ll be treating my family to this delicious new appetizer.

What is Queso Cotija?

Queso cotija is the star of this dip, this type of Hispanic cheese is perfect for SO many different dishes. The texture is firm, salty and usually used crumbled or grated over various dishes to give savory flavor, it resembles feta cheese. Queso cotija has a dry texture but is super rich in flavor. When developing this recipe I had a rough idea of what I wanted to make and tested out other cheeses but this was the winner. The end product is rich, creamy and full of flavor. Since Queso cotija is on the firmer side, I am using cream cheese to make this dip extra velvety and spreadable. Fun fact; Queso Cotija is named after a town in Michoacan, Mexico where it was first elaborated. While the process to make cotija cheese has really modernized with the help of technology and innovation the taste remains as delicious as always. One of my forever comfort meals growing up was white rice and beans loaded with queso cotija. My grandmother has a special orange container specially for queso cotija, she always left it out on the counter and that surprisingly made it taste better although looking back it probably wasn’t the safest idea but it was never in there for long at all before it had to be refilled.

Why Roasted Red Peppers?

Roasting any vegetable enhances the flavor profile and for this Roasted Red Pepper Cotija Cheese Dip, I am using regular red bell peppers. They don’t bring any heat but they do bring a light, sweet and smoky flavor, perfect for those that don’t like it too spicy. On the other hand if you do love a little kick of heat adding crushed red pepper flakes will give that nice heat throughout the dip. Red bell peppers are my preferred peppers for this recipe because of the flavor and the pretty shade it turns. There are other mild peppers that would work for this recipe like poblano, banana, snack peppers or other bell pepper colors and varieties, if you’re up to it you can experiment with other pepper combinations.

Ingredients:

Queso Cotija- This type of cheese is one of the  favorites in Mexican cuisine, because of the versatility of uses in the kitchen. The texture is firm and crumbly on the drier side but loaded with flavor. Look for the Real California Milk seal when shopping to ensure you are getting the best quality product.

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We know dairy here in California, and are home to over 1,000 farms which makes up for 46% of the milk that goes to make California cheese. When you pick up products with the seal just remember there are real people behind the scenes that are passionate and taking their time to do the best.

Cream Cheese- Rich and luscious and gives this dip the creamy texture that we crave in a dip.

Red Bell Peppers- Bell peppers have a very mild flavor when they are raw. When they are roasted the flavor intensifies and the natural sweetness really comes through.

Garlic- A must in every savory recipe. The garlic is also roasted in the oven drizzled with olive oil. The garlic brings in flavor, depth that is sweet and nutty.

Crushed Red pepper- Brings the heat to this dip! The great thing is that you can adjust how much you add based on your spice level preference.

Cilantro-A garnish to add some flavor and fresh element. If you don’t like cilantro you can substitute it for your favorite herbs.

Lemon- Some much needed acidity for all the richness in this Roasted red pepper cotija dip.

This Roasted Red Pepper Cotija Cheese Dip is wonderful paired with artisan crackers. When you are ready to serve add the garnish and toppings. I drizzle a bit of EVOO and load with a few sprigs of cilantro and sliced red peppers. Crumble some cotija cheese to finish if off.

The holidays are made to be surrounded by loved ones, delicious food and quality time. I love to create recipes that are flavorful,  bold, with a twist on the flavors I grew up with and I hope this one makes it to your table.

This post was created in partnership with Real California Milk I’m proud to collaborate with a brand that supports sustainable, family owned dairy farms and high quality ingredients. Recipes and opinions shared here are entirely my own.