Serrano Ham And Manchego Cheese Plate Food

CROQUETTES WITH SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter has melted. Add onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Whisk in milk, and cook, whisking, 3 minutes. Whisk in ham and 1/3 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Spread mixture onto a baking sheet, and let cool completely. Mixture can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days.
• Whisk together eggs in a shallow dish. Stir together breadcrumbs and remaining 1/4 cup cheese in another shallow dish. Scoop tablespoons of cooled mixture, and shape with floured hands into 2-inch ovals. Working with 1 oval at a time, coat in beaten egg, then in breadcrumb mixture. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Heat 2 1/2 inches oil in a large, heavy stockpot until it registers 375 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches to avoid crowding, fry croquettes, flipping once, until dark golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes total. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. (Adjust heat between batches as needed to keep oil at a steady temperature.) Serve warm, garnished with parsley sprigs.

HONEY GLAZED FRIED MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the flour, egg, and panko bread crumbs in 3 separate dishes.
• Dip the cheese cubes into each ingredient to coat, starting with the flour and ending with the panko.
• Preheat the canola oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F, (or in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F.) If you don't have a thermometer, a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.
• Add the breaded cheese to the hot oil, in batches, and deep fry until the cubes are crisp and golden.
• Remove the cheese from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined baking sheet to absorb the excess oil. Transfer the cheese to a serving platter, drizzle with the honey, and dust with the paprika.

SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CROQUETAS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl or in the food processor combine mashed potatoes, cheese, ham and eggs. Season with plenty of salt and freshly ground black pepper. The mixture should still be wet enough so the bread crumbs stick to the croquettas. Form into croquettas (makes about 2 dozen, medium-sized) and dip into panko bread crumbs, seasoned with salt and pepper. Pat lightly so the crumbs stick. Lay out on a tray, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before frying.
• To fry, heat 1-inch of vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or heavy bottomed pot, over medium heat to about 360 degrees F. Fry in small batches, turning once until evenly browned. Each batch should take approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with kosher salt. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with chives and shaved manchego. Serve with Romesco Sauce.
• Toast almonds in a skillet over medium heat until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer almonds to a blender. Add roasted red peppers, egg yolk, garlic, zest, and season with salt and pepper. Pulse a few times to combine the ingredients. With the blender on low speed drizzle in the olive oil. Once it begins to emulsify, stop the blender and add the orange juice, and sherry vinegar. Buzz once more to fully emulsify.
• *RAW EGG WARNING
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs. Due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

GRILLED SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat grill. Brush each slice of bread on one side with olive oil and grill, oil-side down until lightly golden brown. Turn over and divide cheese among bread slices. Top each slice of cheese with the slices of ham and grill until the cheese begins to melt. Serve with the mustard.

PAN CON TOMATE WITH SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
• Lightly flour a work surface and place the dough on top. Dust your hands as well and begin to stretch your dough, working in a circle. Stretch the dough until it is 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Place the dough on the grill and cook until charred on both sides, about 10 minutes total.
• Clean and remove the stem ends of the tomatoes. Place them in a food processor and pulse to break them up. Strain the tomato pulp through a large fine-mesh strainer to remove some of the liquid.
• Spread the tomato pulp over the top of the cooked pizza dough. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with sea salt. Top with the Serrano ham and manchego cheese. Drizzle more olive oil over the top.

SERRANO CHIPS WITH QUINCE PRESERVES AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Cut ham into 32 (3- by 2- by 2-inch) triangles. Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then fry ham in 4 batches, turning occasionally, until crisp and a shade darker, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Using a cheese plane or vegetable peeler, shave 32 small pieces of cheese from wedge. (Each piece should be about 1 inch square.) Top each ham chip with 1/8 teaspoon quince preserves, then press cheese squares into preserves.
• *Available at specialty foods shops.
• **Available at The Spanish Table (206-682-2827; spanishtable.com).

SPANISH TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Slice the tomatoes and arrange on a large platter with the onion. Sprinkle with a good pinch of salt and ½ tsp of the sugar. Leave to stand for 10 mins or up to 30 mins while you make the dressing.
• Tip the parsley, vinegar, olive oil, remaining sugar, garlic, half the almonds and a good pinch of salt into the small bowl of a food processor. Blitz to a pesto consistency, adding a dribble of water if you need to loosen it a little.
• Weave the slices of ham between the tomatoes and onion, creating a little height on the plate. Drizzle over the dressing, scatter with the remaining almonds and shavings of manchego. Drizzle over a little extra oil and serve.

MANGO WEDGES WRAPPED IN SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Combine salt, paprika and pepper, mix well and sprinkle lightly on mango wedges.
• Wrap a slice of the Serrano Ham (can use Prosciutto) around each wedge.
• Arrange wedges on a platter or on individual plates and garnish with shavings of Manchego cheese.
• Number of serving dependent on how large your mangoes are and how many wedges you choose to make.

MANCHEGO AND SERRANO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Saute garlic in olive oil until lightly browned. Discard garlic if you like.
• Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet. Brush slices with olive oil.
• Assemble crostini, with ham first then cheese. Cook under broiler until until cheese is melted and ham is warm. Watch carefully!
• Serve.