• 37 ideas
  • Checked October 2026

What to Eat with Manchego Cheese

Quince paste, fried almonds and olives beside a wedge, then tomato bread, tapas and dishes to grate it over.

What to Eat with Manchego Cheese

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  1. Marcona almondsFried and salted, in a small bowl next to the board.
  2. Quince paste (membrillo)Cut a thin slice and lay it on a wedge of the cheese.
  3. HoneyA thin thread over an aged wedge.
  4. Green olivesPut out a second dish for the stones.
  5. Bread rubbed with tomato (pan con tomate)Toast the bread, rub it with tomato and lay the cheese on top.

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All 37 ideas

Quince paste, honey and fruit 8

  • Black cherry jam A small spoonful beside the cheese, not on it.
  • Fig and almond cake Slice it thin and eat it in place of bread.
  • Fresh figs Quarter them and set them next to a young, mild manchego.
  • Honey A thin thread over an aged wedge.
  • Muscatel raisins Leave them on the stalk and let people pull them off.
  • Quince paste (membrillo) Cut a thin slice and lay it on a wedge of the cheese.
  • Sliced pear Cut it at the last moment so it stays pale.
  • Tomato jam Spread it on the bread first, then add the cheese.

Savory things for the board 10

  • Cured pork loin Thin slices, folded next to the wedges.
  • Green olives Put out a second dish for the stones.
  • Marcona almonds Fried and salted, in a small bowl next to the board.
  • Marinated anchovies One fillet on a cube of cheese, held with a toothpick.
  • Marinated artichoke hearts Drain them and cut them in half.
  • Olive oil with rosemary Pour the oil over cubes of cheese and leave them to soak.
  • Roasted piquillo peppers Lay a strip of pepper over a slice of cheese on bread.
  • Serrano ham Lay the slices loosely so they are easy to lift.
  • Sliced chorizo Cut thin coins from a cured sausage.
  • Toasted hazelnuts Rub off the skins and leave them whole.

Breads and crackers 4

  • Bread rubbed with tomato (pan con tomate) Toast the bread, rub it with tomato and lay the cheese on top.
  • Crusty bread Tear it, do not slice it, and pour a little olive oil over.
  • Olive oil crackers Thin and plain, so the cheese leads.
  • Small crunchy breadsticks Stand them in a glass beside the board.

Tapas for the same table 7

  • Broad beans with ham Serve them warm in a small dish.
  • Fried eggplant with honey Pour the honey over at the table so the slices stay crisp.
  • Garlic shrimp Bring them out sizzling, with bread for the oil.
  • Gazpacho Pour it into small glasses and serve it cold.
  • Ham croquettes Fry them last so they reach the table hot.
  • Patatas bravas Set them in the middle of the table with toothpicks.
  • Spanish potato omelette Cut it into squares and serve it warm or cool.

Dishes to grate or shave it over 5

  • Arugula salad Shave the cheese over the leaves with a peeler.
  • Bread crumbs fried with chorizo (migas) Grate a little over the pan and bring it to the table.
  • Chickpeas with spinach Serve it warm with a few shavings on top.
  • Pisto (stewed peppers, tomato and zucchini) Grate aged manchego over it at the table.
  • Roasted pepper and eggplant salad Lay thin slices of the cheese over the strips.

Drinks 3

  • Peach juice Thick and sweet. Serve it cold in a small glass.
  • Red grape juice Chilled, in a small glass.
  • Sparkling water with orange A slice of orange and plenty of ice.

How it works

What to eat manchego cheese with? Something sweet, something salty and a piece of bread. All three kinds are among these 37 ideas, with tapas for the same table and three drinks with no alcohol.

Read the full guide

Quince paste, tomato bread and the age of the wedge

Quince paste, dulce de membrillo in Spanish, is sold in blocks, cut into thin slices and eaten with cheese, manchego among them. Bread rubbed with tomato, olive oil and salt is served with cheeses and cured ham. Age changes the cheese: a semicurado is milder, a curado tastes of caramel and nuts, and a viejo is sharp, peppery and firm enough to grate.

What to eat manchego with, young or aged

Cut the cheese into thin triangles and leave the rind on the plate, since it is not eaten. A young wedge suits fresh fruit. An aged one stands up to honey, quince paste, cured meat and anchovies.

  • Take the cheese out of the fridge ahead of time. A cold wedge is hard and tastes of less.

Questions and answers

What goes with manchego cheese on a board?

Quince paste, Marcona almonds, green olives and Serrano ham, with crusty bread or small breadsticks. Fresh figs or sliced pear add something juicy.

What fruit goes with manchego?

Fresh figs, sliced pear and Muscatel raisins. From a jar or a block: quince paste, black cherry jam and tomato jam, each sweet enough to set off a salty, aged wedge.

What meat goes with manchego?

Cured meats, sliced thin: Serrano ham, chorizo and cured pork loin. For a hot dish, ham croquettes or broad beans with ham.

What do you drink with manchego?

Without alcohol: chilled red grape juice, peach juice, or sparkling water with a slice of orange.

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