Often when out for tapas in Madrid we will order a plate of aged ‘Queso Manchego’ Manchego Cheese with ‘colines’ small bread sticks. But with good Manchego Cheese being so readily available now in stores this is so easy and quick to knock out at home. Here I present 3 ways with Manchego cheese. The first way is how a cheese plate of Manchego would be presented in a tapas bar – a beautiful circular fan of thinly sliced triangle-shaped Manchego slices. The second way is to serve the cheese with ‘Membrillo’ Qunice Paste on top. My girls adore Membrillo. It is sticky, bright and sweet and pairs so well with the sharp aged cheese. The final way is to use Manchego cheese as a desert. Here you can let your imagination go wild! I always like to include Membrillo, roasted and salted Marcona Almonds, fresh grapes, sweet dried fruit and of course bread, crackers or bread sticks. So when you have company over for dinner and no time to make a desert – roll out a wedge of Manchego!

Manchego Cheese Plate 3 Ways

Manchego Cheese platter

  • Cook Time: 5 min
  • Persons: 6
  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Ingredients
  • 8oz wedge of aged Manchego Cheese
  • Bread sticks, crackers or sliced baguette bread
  1. Instructions
  2. Remove cheese from fridge. Remove rind and slice into thin triangles.
  3. Leave to sit out for half an hour before serving with bread sticks.

Manchego Cheese with Membrillo

  • Cook Time: 8 min
  • Persons: 6
  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Ingredients
  • 8 oz wedge of aged Manchego Cheese
  • 3 oz of ‘membrillo’ quince paste
  • Bread sticks, crackers or sliced baguette bread
  1. Instructions
  2. Remove cheese from fridge. Remove rind and slice into thin triangles.
  3. Leave to sit out for half an hour before placing sliced membrillo on top of the cheese.
  4. Serve with bread sticks or on top of sliced fresh baguette.

Manchego Cheese Board

  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Persons: 6
  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Ingredients
  • 8 oz wedge of aged Manchego Cheese
  • 3 oz of ‘membrillo’ quince paste
  • Handful of roasted salted almonds
  • 2 small bunches of fresh grapes
  • Handful of dried fruits such as figs or dates
  • Bread sticks, crackers or sliced baguette bread
  1. Instructions
  2. Remove cheese from fridge. Remove rind and slice into thin triangles.
  3. Leave to sit out for half an hour before placing sliced membrillo on top of the cheese.
  4. Serve with bread sticks or on top of sliced fresh baguette.

 

Top Tips

  • It is important to remove the cheese at least half an hour before serving to bring it up to room temperature. If it served cold then you’re not eating the cheese at its most flavorsome. 
  • The more aged the cheese the stronger flavor it will have. I like Manchego cheese that is aged by at least 6 months. However I prefer the tart and almost spicy flavor you get from a ‘Queso Manchego’ that has been aged by 12 months.

Manchego Cheese 3 Ways – Queso Manchego 

A perfect party starter or appetizer and equally delicious as an after dinner cheese plate – ‘Queso Manchego’ Manchego Cheese is perfect for both.