Marinated Manchego Recipes

SPANISH MARINATED OLIVES

Steps:

• Add the olive oil and sherry vinegar to a small bowl and whisk.
• Add the mozzarella, manchego, garlic, rosemary, bay and orange peel to a large bowl, pour over the marinade and then toss. Add the olives, stirring to make sure they are covered in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, drain off any excess liquid. Add the cubed chorizo, toss and serve.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Find a small, wide-mouth canning jar or small glass vase (3 1/2 inches in diameter by 4 inches high), just large enough to hold the two goat cheeses on top of each other with a little room to spare. Cut each cheese in half horizontally, making 2 rounds from each. (A piece of dental floss makes this easier.)
• Place half of the first disk flat in the jar, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then with 1/2 teaspoon dill, 1 teaspoon basil, and a few red pepper flakes, and drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Place another disk of cheese on top and repeat the seasonings, herbs, and oil. Continue with the remaining cheese disks, piling one on top of the other with oil and seasonings in between. When all the disks are stacked and seasoned, drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top. Cover and set aside at room temperature for one hour or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Serve at room temperature with bread or crackers for people to help themselves.

MARINATED MANCHEGO WITH ORANGE PRESERVE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Cut 1/4" off top of garlic bulb and place on a sheet of foil. Drizzle with oil; season with salt. Wrap tightly in foil and bake until skin is golden brown and cloves are tender, 35-40 minutes. Let cool. Squeeze cloves into a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, cut 1/4" off top and bottom of orange and cut lengthwise into quarters. Remove flesh from each quarter, not including white pith, from peel in 1 piece (save peels). Squeeze juice from flesh into a small bowl; set aside. Cut peel into 1/4" pieces and place in a small saucepan; pour in cold water to cover by 1". Bring to a boil then drain; repeat process twice more to remove bitterness. Return orange peels to saucepan and add sugar, reserved orange juice, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until peels are soft and liquid is syrupy, 20-30 minutes. Let orange preserve cool.
• Add orange preserve, Manchego, rosemary, thyme, and remaining 1 1/2 cups oil to bowl with garlic and gently toss to combine. Cover and chill at least 12 hours.
• Bring marinated Manchego to room temperature before serving with bread.
• Do Ahead
• Manchego can be marinated 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

MARINATED MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut the cheese into bite sized pieces (1-inch by 1-inch). Leave the cheese's rind on. It acts as a stabilizer for the cheese pieces (don't worry if your cheese doesn't have the rind. This recipe will still work out. It is just more helpful and fancier when the rind is left).
• Mix together the oil, peppercorns, garlic, and herbs. Pour over cheese in a small bowl. Cover and chill for up to 3 days.

SOURDOUGH BREAD WITH MARINATED MANCHEGO CHEESE AND ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Whisk oil, green onions, shallot, and cumin seeds in small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange cheese slices in 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Place 1 roasted pepper strip atop each cheese slice. Pour dressing over; cover and refrigerate overnight. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before using.
• Top each baguette slice with 1 cheese and roasted pepper stack. Drizzle with dressing from baking dish. Place on platter and serve.