Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste

Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste is a simple tapa that's a bit out of the ordinary and it's naturally gluten free. The cheese and paste both come in blocks so can easily be cut into triangles for an impressive presentation.

this gluten free recipe

In Spanish cuisine tapas refer to a variety of appetizers or snacks, sometimes called "the little dishes of Spain." They can be as simple as olives or this combination of cheese and quince, or more complex including sauces and pastry. Yet tapas are made with ingredients common in Spain so all appetizers are not tapas.

There are no rules for appetizers so check out my roundup of holiday appetizers if you're building a menu or looking for something that really catches your eye. I've got beautiful platters for entertaining, stunning dips that stand out on any buffet table, soup shooters for fancy dinners and more.

Ingredients

Manchego cheese is a sharp, hard sheeps' milk cheese that can be found at deli counters and specialty cheese shops. Quince paste in popular over the holidays and I see it in the deli section of well stocked grocery stores or specialty food shops.

• Manchego cheese
• quince paste

See recipe card for exact amounts

Substitutions

In Spanish quince paste is called membrillo or dulce de membrillo. It's a sweet, thick, jelly made from the pulp of the quince fruit. It's sold in round or rectangular-shaped plastic tubs and is firm enough to be sliced.

Quince Paste - Substitute quince jam or fig jam. Rather than slicing the paste, spread the jam right onto the cheese triangles and serve it the same way.

Manchego - If you can't find Manchego substitute with a well-aged Italian Asiago, Pecorino or even a sharp, white English cheddar.

Best Gluten Free Tapas

The modern way food bloggers organize recipes is doing a roundup. From my Gluten Free Tapas recipe roundup these are my favourite tapas.

• Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste
• Banderillas, perfect for a DIY crowd
• Shrimp in Garlic Sauce
• Chorizo Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates
• Meatballs in Almond Sauce served on toothpicks
• Tuna Rice Salad that's more than the sum of it's parts!
• Potato Chorizo Frittata served appetizer style for any crowd

Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste

This simple tapa is a little out of the ordinary and looks gorgeous presented in an alternating pattern on a rectangular tray.

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Spanish

Keyword: Manchego cheese with quince

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 401kcal

Author: Cinde Little

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 oz Manchego cheese
• ▢ 8 oz quince paste

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Instructions

• Cut Manchego cheese into triangles.
• Cut quince paste into triangles slightly smaller than the cheese. Place on cheese.
• Arrange on tray. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

*Quince paste is available in specialty food shops but during the holiday season I have found it in the deli section of well stocked grocery stores too. If you can't find it use quince jam for a very similar taste.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste

Serving Size

 

1 person

Amount per Serving

Calories

401

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

20

g

31

%

Saturated Fat

 

14

g

88

%

Monounsaturated Fat

 

0.02

g

Cholesterol

 

61

mg

20

%

Sodium

 

362

mg

16

%

Potassium

 

44

mg

1

%

Carbohydrates

 

39

g

13

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

28

g

31

%

Protein

 

14

g

28

%

Vitamin A

 

312

IU

6

%

Vitamin C

 

5

mg

6

%

Calcium

 

618

mg

62

%

Iron

 

0.3

mg

2

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.