Name: What To Serve With Manchego Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 wedge Manchego Cheese; Quince Paste or Quince Chutney; Marcona Almonds; 1 package Serrano Ham; Fresh Figs; Spanish Style Crackers; Green Spanish Olives; Pistachios; Fresh Rosemary; Red or White Wine of Your Choice

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Are you looking for some inspiration on what to serve with Manchego Cheese? I’ve got you covered with over 9 different ideas on what pairs best with this delicious Spanish cheese. It’s the perfect compliment to your next cheese plate and you’ll know exactly what to serve with it.

I’ve also included an easy recipe in this post to make your own cheese board with the ingredients I’ve recommended. With the holidays just around the corner, this quick and easy cheese board is perfect for family gatherings.

First A Little History Lesson…

Where does Manchego Cheese come from? Manchego cheese hails from the Spanish region of La Mancha. It’s made exclusively from sheep’s milk which gives it a crumbly texture and rich buttery flavor. You can easily identify Manchego by its distinctive zigzag pattern and the orange color on the rind. Also referred to as queso manchego this sheep’s milk cheese also comes aged anywhere from 60 days to 2 full years.

There are many types of Spanish cheese available but Manchego is the most popular. Other Spanish cheeses you might be familiar with include: Idiazábal which is another cheese made with sheep’s milk, Cabrales which is a blue cheese, and Mahón made with cow’s milk.

What Fruit Goes With Manchego Cheese?

One of the best fruits to serve with Manchego Cheese are fresh figs. Depending on the time of year and where you live you may find specific varieties of fig available.

For me, I was only able to find tiger stripe figs. They taste sweet like berries, creating a jam consistency. Other figs that would pair well with Manchego Cheese are also black mission figs and brown turkey figs.

What Jam Goes With Manchego Cheese?

In researching what to pair with Manchego Cheese I discovered one of the most common suggestions is quince paste. Quince paste is a sweet jelly made from quince fruit. You can find it in lots of serving options like jars, tubes, or even cubed.

If you’re having a hard time finding quince paste at your local grocery store, I found it in the gourmet cheese section at mine. This is because quince paste is excellent with cheese, crackers, or spread on toast.

Other jams that would compliment Manchego Cheese perfectly would be fig jam or tomato jam.

What Kind Of Crackers Go With Manchego Cheese?

When selecting a cracker to pair with Manchego Cheese a good choice is Spanish Style Crackers. What are Spanish Style Crackers? Many of them are thin crispy crackers, baked in olive oil and seasoned with salt and other herbs.

Is Manchego Cheese Good For A Charcuterie Board?

Manchego Cheese makes an excellent choice to include on a charcuterie board. So many of the ingredients people naturally gravitate toward adding on a cheese platter are a great match for the nutty flavor of manchego.

Here are some examples of what might be traditionally included on a charcuterie board that would also pair well with manchego:

Spanish Green Olives
Caramelized Onions
Sundried Tomatoes
Spanish Ham
Spanish Chorizo or Any Other Cured Meats
Walnuts or Marcona Almonds
Fig Spread
Red Grapes

A white bowl filled with marcona almonds. It's sitting on top of a wooden platter. Some of the almonds are scattered around the bowl.

Delicious Marcona Almonds

What Wine Do You Pair With Manchego Cheese?

Cheese and wine make an excellent combination. Whether you love a robust red wine or a dry white wine, there are several types you can pair with Manchego Cheese

Pinot Noir (my personal favorite)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Dry Sherry
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Grigio
Brut Champagne

Do You Eat The Wax With Manchego Cheese?

The type of wax coating used to age Manchego Cheese is completely inedible. I advise eating around it. If you would like to save your rind to add to a soup or stew later, make sure you remove the wax coating first.

Is Manchego A Healthy Cheese?

If you’re looking for a healthy cheese option, look no further than Manchego Cheese. It’s high in calcium, and protein, as well as vitamins a, d, and e making it the best cheese to sneak in some nutritional value to your meal.

How Long Will Manchego Keep In The Fridge?

The best way to preserve your leftover manchego cheese is to wrap it in parchment paper and seal it with a rubber band or a strong piece of tape. Keep it in the drawer in your fridge specifically designated for cheese if you have one. This should keep it fresh for up to two months.

Tools Needed:

Wooden Charcuterie Board or Large Platter
Small Dishes For Serving Jam or Paste
A Cheese Knife
Tongs or Fork for Grabbing Other Items On The Board
Wine Glasses (For The Wine of Course)

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