When you think of manchego cheese, you may conjure up mouth-watering memories of the famous Spanish sheep's milk cheese. But Mexican manchego is a cheese that's equally deserving of your attention. While this mild cow's milk variety has little in common with its Spanish namesake, Mexican manchego cheese brings a sweet, nutty flavor and buttery texture to Mexican dishes from enchiladas and quesadillas to roasted poblano peppers.
Canela from Wisconsin's Roth Cellars is an award-winning variety that's inspired by Spanish-style Manchego but made with cow's milk like Mexican manchego cheese. Hand-rubbed with cinnamon and paprika, Canela cheese has a reddish-orange rind and a nutty flavor profile with notes of candied pineapple and brown butter. A basket-weave rind resembles the classic herringbone pattern on a Spanish manchego cheese. Aged for 15 months in a cellar, Canela has a firm, crystallized texture that's perfect for grating and ideal for cheese boards.
Manchego cheese was introduced to Mexico after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. As the cheesemaking recipe evolved, Mexican manchego came to be made with cow's milk rather than sheep's milk. It was also aged for shorter periods, giving it a softer texture than its Spanish counterpart. Today, Mexican manchego bears little resemblance to the Spanish cheese made in the La Mancha region.
Mexican manchego is a semi-soft, rindless, pale yellow cheese with a high moisture content, making it an excellent melting cheese. It has a slightly granular texture and can be easily cut, so it's ideal for sandwiches and other dishes involving sliced cheese.
Mexican manchego is made with industrialized processes that allow for greater distribution. Whole pasteurized cow's milk is curdled with rennet, then the curds are drained, pressed into molds, and allowed to age for several weeks or months.
Mexican manchego cheese is made from cow's milk and has no minimum maturation. Spanish manchego is a hard, sheep's milk cheese, ivory-white in color with a distinctive herringbone rind, and it's ripened for several months to two years.
The mild flavor and melting texture of Mexican manchego cheese make it a natural addition to quesadillas, enchiladas, and other cheesy dishes. But this popular variety can also be cubed or sliced and consumed on its own or paired with other foods and beverages.
Fruits like apples, pears, and grapes complement the nutty flavor and creamy texture of Mexican manchego. Cured meats like prosciutto or chorizo offer a savory contrast to the buttery goodness of Mexican manchego cheese. Plain crackers or crusty bread will allow the mild flavor of Mexican manchego to shine. Of course, Mexican manchego is a great addition to enchiladas and quesadillas, or on grilled vegetables like roasted poblano peppers filled with ground beef.
Mexican manchego is great with beer – try a lighter lager or pilsner. When pouring wine, any bright and slightly acidic white wine will do nicely, or try a light and fruity red. If you're in the mood for something stronger, a little fruit liqueur or high-quality tequila can be a fine match for this mild cheese.
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Other popular Mexican cheese types include queso fresco, a very fresh cheese; cotija, known as the Mexican parmesan; oaxaca, often called the Mexican mozzarella; and queso quesadilla, a cheese that melts easily on tortillas and in queso dips. As they have done for nearly two centuries, Wisconsin cheesemakers have mastered the recipes for all of these Mexican beauties and many others, producing a steady supply of Mexican cheeses made from the milk of Wisconsin cows.
Along with manchego, Spain produces more than 100 cheeses. Some of the most common Spanish cheese types include cabrales, a blue cheese; tetilla, a melting cow's milk cheese; idiazabal, a sheep's milk cheese that's often smoked; and rosemary cheese, a sheep's milk variety covered with rosemary leaves.
Craving award-winning aged cheddar, pining for parmesan, or searching for a new cheese to try? The world’s best cheese is just a click away! Explore our directory of Wisconsin cheesemakers and retailers who offer online cheese shopping and get cheese shipped right to your door. What are you waiting for?
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