Marinated Manchego Food

MARINATED MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Cook garlic, orange, and oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until garlic starts to turn golden, 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and add rosemary sprigs. Season with salt and let cool.
• Pour garlic mixture into a medium bowl, add cheese, and gently toss to coat cheese. Cover and chill at least 12 hours before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Cheese can be marinated 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.

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.

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.

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 CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice each block of cheddar cheese into twenty 1/4-inch slices.
• Cut each block of cream cheese into 18 slices; sandwich between cheddar slices, using a knife to spread evenly.
• Create four 6-inch long blocks of cheese; place in a 13x9-inch dish.
• Combine the roasted peppers, oil, vinegars, onions, herbs, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper; pour over cheese.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning once.
• Drain excess marinade.
• Serve cheese with bread or crackers.

GARLIC AND SAGE MARINATED CHEESE

Steps:

• Sterilize two 16 oz. conatiners with lids. Set aside.
• Cut the goats cheese logs crosswise into 1" thick rounds, or cut the feta or mozzarella into large cubes. Divide cheese among sterilized jars, adding equal amounts of spices and herbs as you go, being careful that the flavorings are evenly dispersed throughout each jar. Pour in enough olive oil to cover the cheese by about 1".
• Using a table knife, work around the inside edges of the jars to dispel any air. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• Makes two 16 oz. containers.

MARINATED CHEESE AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Cut the cheese and meat into 1/2 inch pieces.
• In a bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, fennel seeds, and pepper.
• Stir in the cheese and meat mixture, and the olives.
• Cover and chill for up to 3 days stirring occasionally.
• Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.
• Serve with toothpicks.

MEDITERRANEAN MARINATED CHEESE

Steps:

• Cube cream cheese into 36 pieces.
• Place on serving tray.
• Combine remaining ingredients.
• Pour dressing over cheese and toss lightly.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

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.