Put together a simple and delicious Spanish cheese board at home to impress guests or simply enjoy yourself. Read on for lots of tips of what to include (including types of Spanish cheese)!
![A Spanish cheese board, with or without cured meats as well, is a great way to start a meal or for a light lunch. Get tips on what to include. Spanish cheese board with ham and chorizo with plate of tomato bread and almonds to one side, olives other](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Spanish-cheese-board-photo.jpg)
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If you are ever out for a Spanish meal, or want to create one at home, and don't know what to have, a good place to start is selection of Spanish cheeses (also see more on what are tapas). Or maybe I should say a cheese and meat plate, as to me I would always choose some of both.
In Spain, you can normally choose one or the other, or both, and you may or may not get some additions to the plate. At home, of course, you can choose what you like so let me walk you though some of your delicious options.
![A Spanish cheese board, with or without cured meats as well, is a great way to start a meal or for a light lunch. Get tips on what to include. slices of Spanish cheese, ham and chorizo on board with bread and almonds behind](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Spanish-cheese-board-side-pic.jpg)
A board like this makes a great, easy appetizer or lunch at any time of year, but particularly if you are looking for something with little effort over the summer. It would also be good to start or round off a dinner party.
For me, I have many memories of enjoying lots of different cheeses and meats with my parents for lunch, particularly on their balcony in Southern Spain. My dad is a big fan of trying a little of everything, and we never complained!
![A Spanish cheese plate, with or without cured meats as well, is a great way to start a meal or for a light lunch. Get tips on what to include. blocks of three Spanish cheeses](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cheeses-Spanish-cheese-board.jpg)
An introduction to Spanish cheeses
There are a few things to know about Spanish cheeses. First, cheese can be made from cow's milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk or a blend. In fact cow's milk is probably the least used, unlike other countries. The other thing is there are three main kinds - fresco (fresh), semi-curado (part aged, usually under 3 months) and curado (aged).
Finding many Spanish cheeses outside Spain can be challenging - you can get a number in the UK these days but not many in the US. Ones to look out for if you can, though are:
- Manchego - undoubtedly the most famous, an aged cheese although you can also get semi-curado versions. These days it is well exported so fairly easy to source. It has a lovely depth of flavor, made with sheep's milk.
- Mahon - comes in fresh to aged versions, it's one of the few cow's milk cheeses with a distinctive orange rind. It's from Menorca where it picks up a slight saltiness from the sea air.
- Cabrales - one of the few blue cheeses, wrapped in vine leaves and aged in caves in the Picos de Europa mountains. Great on top of white wine marinated steak.
- 'Tetilla' - yes that does translate to what you might think, it's a strangely-shaped cow's milk cheese from Galicia but with a lovely creamy texture and mild flavor.
- Murcia al vino - a goat's cheese tinted red on the outside from being washed in red wine during aging.
Most cheese plates have some Manchego and one or two other cheeses - here I've used aged Mahon and a goat cheese called Garrotxa that I was able to find locally.
![slices of Serrano ham and chorizo](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/hams-Spanish-cheese-board.jpg)
Spanish cured meats and ham
I don't think Spanish food would be quite the same if it weren't for it's beloved pork, and the cured meats and sausages, known as embutidos (charcuterie) are for me some of the best.
You're kind of 'basic' cured ham is jamon serrano, as I have here. But if you want to go a little more special hunt down some jamon iberico. It is a slightly darker color, almost a deep red, and comes from the Iberian black pig.
The most special of all is jamon iberico de bellota where it's not only from Iberian pigs, but ones fed on acorns. Believe me, the stuff melts in your mouth. Whichever you have, cut it really thin (or buy pre-cut).
You'll always have various more salami-type meats alongside the ham, usually including chorizo (above right). It's tinted a slightly orange color from paprika which also gives it a great flavor. For a special variation, try a chorizo Iberico which has a lovely smokey flavor (see my chorizo al vino tinto post for more about different kinds of chorizo).
Other common Spanish cured meats are lomo (pork loin) and regional salamis like Catalunya's fuet. Add in what you can find.
![bowls with olives and almonds with quince paste on slices of cheese to side](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sides-Spanish-cheese-board.jpg)
On the side: other additions to a cheese plate
In Spain you'll not typically get much on the side apart from bread, either plain or pan con tomate. However sometimes you'll get some membrillo - quince jelly/paste - and olives are often on the table anyway.
Sometimes they'll serve marcona almonds, the first almonds I ever actually liked and still my favorite (try and you'll see why). My dad also likes some white anchovies, another common tapas dish.
A Spanish cheese plate is a typical way to start a meal of tapas or just to nibble on as you are enjoying a drink. Red wine is probably the most common accompaniment, but you might also choose cava or a sherry. You could of course also go for a sangria, like my white sangria or cava sangria. Whatever you enjoy it with, just be sure to enjoy it, just as I know my dad would.
![A Spanish cheese board, with or without cured meats as well, is a great way to start a meal or for a light lunch. Get tips on what to include. Spanish cheese board with plate of tomato bread above and pieces of cheese around board](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Spanish-cheese-board-picture.jpg)
Try these other easy Spanish tapas dishes:
- No cook Spanish tapas
- Gazpacho
- Blistered Padron peppers
- Gambas al ajilo (Spanish garlic shrimp)
- Plus get many more Spanish recipes in the archives.
Spanish cheese board
Ingredients
- 4 oz Manchego (approx)
- 2 oz Mahon cheese approx, or other Spanish cheese as available
- 2 oz Garrotxa cheese approx, or other Spanish cheese as available eg Cabrales
- 4 slices jamon serrano approx, or jamon iberico if available
- 6 slices chorizo approx (mild or spicy (picante) as you prefer)
- 6 slices other cured meats/salami eg fuet - optional, or eg more chorizo/omit
- 10 marcona almonds approx
- 4 slices pan con tomate approx
- 1 handful olives eg manzanilla
- 2 - 3 slices membrillo quince jelly/paste, approx (2-3 slices is around 1oz/30g total)
Instructions
- Thinly slice the cheese and meats, if not already sliced.
- Arrange the slices around a plate or wooden board, with the almonds, bread, olives and membrillo on the side. You can also cut the slices of membrillo in half as triangles and place one on each triangle slice of Manchego, as in pictures above.
- Adjust quantities to the number of people/course you are serving.
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
See all the other dishes that might suit the Dads (being Father's Day):
- Chicken Fajita Burgers by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Chili Cheese Omelet by Food Lust People Love
- Chinese Chicken Salad by Pies and Plots
- Cider Braised Pork Belly Tacos by Gourmet Everyday
- Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches by Soulfully Made
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Pesto by Cooking Chat
- Korean BBQ Steak Bowls by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
- Pork Chops With Brandied Cherries by Mysavoryspoon
Remember to pin for later!
![A Spanish cheese board, with or without cured meats as well, is a great way to start a meal or for a light lunch. Get tips on what to include for your authentic taste of Spain (including all about Spanish cheeses!) A Spanish cheese board, with or without cured meats as well, is a great way to start a meal or for a light lunch. Get tips on what to include for your authentic taste of Spain (including all about Spanish cheeses!)](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Spanish-cheese-board-pin.jpg)
adrian
Hui There,
we live in Barcelona and I was looking at your blog, nice job lots of good information. keep you the good work.
Adrian
Eye on Food Tours
Barcelona
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, glad to hear you appreciate it!
Teri @ The Freshman Cook
I was introduced to Manchego last year, and I fell in love with it! I will start looking for some of the others. I really enjoy these type of plates as the main meal, especially on a warm evening. Your Spanish Cheese Plate looks amazing!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Teri, manchego is a definite favorite here too. And yes, this kind of eating is great on warmer nights.
Betsy @ Desserts Required
I have just invited myself over to your house for this meal. I know some may not have it for the main dish but I can't think of any reason why I wouldn't just go from cheese and meats to dessert!
Caroline's Cooking
Ha, you'd be welcome Betsy! And sounds like a great meal 🙂
Nikki
I love everything about this! I could make a meal on a fabulous cheese plate like this! Delicious!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Nikki, I know what you mean, I think I could too!
Christie
I have tried to make a cheese plate. Mine is never quite as pretty as this one. I'll just make yours next time.
Caroline's Cooking
Yay, thanks Christie, sounds like a plan!
Liz
I could easily make a meal of this gorgeous cheese plate! I know I can find Manchego and I think Cabrales, but I'll have to look for some of the other cheeses 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Thank Liz, do see what you can find!
cheri
Sounds like you have some wonderful memories, beautiful cheese plate.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, I'm glad to say I do! And tasty cheese are a great way to re-live them (or just enjoy anyway!)