Manchego's Perfect Fruit Partners: A Cheesy Adventure

Spain's most famous cheese, Manchego, is known for its signature rind, dense texture, and piquant flavour. But what fruits complement this cheese's unique characteristics? Fresh figs are a classic pairing, with their delicate aroma and sweet flavour creating a perfect contrast to the savoury and salty Manchego. Other varieties of figs that work well include black mission figs and brown turkey figs. Quince paste, or dulce de membrillo, is another traditional pairing and is Spain's national snack when combined with Manchego. This hard, floral-scented fruit is usually cooked to a sweet jelly, though it can also be served raw. For a more unusual pairing, try black grapes—a healthy and refreshing choice to boost your energy levels.

Figs

If you want to try this pairing, it is important to note that fresh figs are usually only available from August through to early October.

When serving figs with Manchego, you could also include some Marcona almonds, serrano ham, and pistachios.

Quince paste

Quince is a hard fruit that resembles a cross between an apple and a pear. It is usually not eaten raw, but cooked. The paste is available at some supermarkets and specialty food stores, or online. It can also be made at home.

When serving, cut the rind from the Manchego cheese, then cut into wedges and place on plates. Cut the quince paste into slices and place a slice on top of each wedge of cheese. This can be served as a simple and moreish party canapé or as part of a tapas spread.

For a fun variation, cut the quince paste and cheese into cubes, and assemble them onto a toothpick with a watercress leaf in between.

Grapes

Black grapes, in particular, are a rich source of resveratrol, a potent antioxidant that may help ward off cancer and heart disease. The protein and calcium in Manchego cheese complete this snack, making it a super-healthy combo that will boost your energy levels.

Manchego is a very versatile cheese that can be paired with fruits, nuts, crackers, crusty bread, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives. It has a slightly salty taste, achieved during production by rubbing with dry salt or immersing the cheese in highly salted water. The cheese has a distinctive flavour—well-developed but not too strong, creamy with a tangy flavour, nutty with a slightly salty taste, and an aftertaste characteristic of sheep's milk.

Dates

This combination also goes well with a glass of red wine. In fact, it is said that "uvas con queso saben a beso" or "grapes with cheese taste like a kiss" in Spanish.

Chocolate

For a hard cheese like Manchego, experts recommend pairing it with high-quality dark chocolate (+60% cocoa). As dark chocolate is not very sugary, it is easier to taste all the true flavours. Of course, milk chocolate and white chocolate could work as well.

• Combine Manchego cheese and chocolate in small grilled cheese sandwiches.
• On a dessert plate, serve some Manchego slices, a bit of honey, some dark chocolate sprinkles, and a few pine nuts. Ask your guests to dip the cheese in honey and finish with a dip into the chocolate and pine nuts.

Just remember to have both the chocolate and the Manchego at room temperature before tasting to maximise the flavours and aromas.

Frequently asked questions