como cortar queso manchego

How to cut manchego cheese

The variety of cheeses available is infinite, and the taste of brie cheese has nothing to do with Manchego cheese, so they should not be cut in the same way. If you want to know how to cut Manchego cheese or any other cured or semi-cured cheese, you've come to the right place because at Enrique Tomás, we're going to explain everything you need to know.

Are you ready?

What You Need to Cut Cheese

Before you start, it's important to make sure you have all the necessary accessories. First and foremost, the cheese, but you also need a sharp knife that is not serrated and a cheese cutting board.

In principle, this should be enough, but as a recommendation, we advise you to also have an insulated cheese container. This way, if you don't finish it, you can store it comfortably and prevent it from drying out.

How to Cut Manchego Cheese

The hardness and texture of soft cheeses like brie, tetilla cheese, or white cheese have nothing in common with other firmer cured or semi-cured cheeses like Manchego cheese, one of the most popular in our country.

In the latest edition of the world's most important cheese competition, the Cheese World Awards, a Manchego cheese made its way into the top 100 cheeses of the year. This is a recurring situation, as a cheese of this style consistently makes it onto the prestigious list in nearly every edition.

For this reason, we're going to explain how to cut Manchego cheese with some simple steps:

  1. Place the cheese, whether it's the whole wheel or a wedge, in the middle of the cheese cutting board and make sure your knife is clean.
  2. Position the knife vertically on top of the cheese to cut a thick slice, between five and ten millimeters thick. Use this slice to make cheese sticks.

  3. To enjoy the cheese more, it's best to present it in the form of sticks. So, if you already have a slice, cut it vertically into pieces about five millimeters or slightly more in width. The idea is to try to make the sticks as wide as they are long.

  4. Once the cheese is ready, transfer it to a plate and serve it. Accompany it with some toasted bread, Seville breadsticks, and extra virgin olive oil, or with nuts, as we do in some of our Enrique Tomás stores with other cured cheeses. You'll see how delicious it is!

 

Manchego cheese with Seville breadsticks by Enrique TomásCured cheese topped with Seville breadsticks by Enrique Tomás

 

What Cheeses to Pair with Manchego Cheese

The best way to enjoy Manchego cheese is by combining it with others because a cheese tasting is an irresistible pleasure. We suggest pairing your Manchego cheese with:

  • White cheese: Since the goal is to enjoy high-quality Manchego cheese, let's combine it with flavorful cheeses and some milder ones. White cheese falls into the latter category, and although its taste is light, it's just as delicious as Manchego cheese!

  • Goat cheese: This can also be considered a milder cheese, although it has a bit more flavor than the previous one. There are several types of goat cheese, and while the typical goat cheese log is the most famous, you can choose your favorites and serve them alongside the Manchego cheese.

  • Swiss Tête de Moine cheese: This cheese, with its curious name (it means "monk's head"), is famous not only for its taste but also for its presentation. To cut it, you need a special utensil that shaves the cheese. As a result, the flavor of Swiss Tête de Moine cheese is even more delightful on the palate!

Swiss Tête de Moine cheese by Enrique Tomás

 

As you can see, we've paired both mild and strong cheeses but excluded those with a very strong flavor like Roquefort because they would overshadow the presence of Manchego cheese in your mouth.

However, this is just a recommendation, and the best advice we can give you is this: Follow your own tastes and create a cheese board that suits you! If you pair your cheese with a good wine and share it with your loved ones...

You're going to enjoy an exceptional moment!

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