Take the comeback of the warm on hot days as the perfect excuse to improve your salad game by making new salad recipes.
In this article, we will show you one of the best and most innovative Spanish salads: the apple manchego salad.
As well as other recipes for manchego cheese, the sweet and sour combination takes the dish to a new level, and if you keep scrolling down this article you will learn how to make it.
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Background of the Dish
Manchego cheese recipes became popular in the second half of the 1900s when its commercialization increased exponentially.
The apple manchego salad isn’t the first Spanish one to play with the sweet and sour combination of flavors (see the Ensalada de mango and the Spanish mixed green salad), but it is a fan favorite.
The fact that the proportion between manchego and apple is similar turns this salad into an even combination of flavors that everyone loves.
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Things You’ll Need for Apple Manchego Salad
To make this Spanish salad recipe you need apples (better if it is a mix between Honeycrisps and Granny Smith), Manchego cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and chives.
As well as other manchego recipes, you can replace it with cheddar or Swiss cheese.
Ingredients
- 350 gr Manchego cheese
- 3 Honeycrisp apples
- 3 Granny Smith apples
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
- 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt (to taste)
How to Make Apple Manchego Salad – Step by Step Guide
- The first step in this apple and cheese salad is to wash the apples well (because you won’t remove the skin). Then cut the apples in half and remove the seeds.
- Now continue cutting the apples into very thin sticks, the same size, and shape as matchsticks. For this, first, you have to cut the apples into thin slices and then do the matchstick shapes. Set aside for a bit.
- After that, cut the Spanish manchego cheese, also in the shape and size of matchsticks. Then chop the chives into thin slices.
- For the next step, place the cheese and apple pieces in a bowl. Add the juice of one lemon, the olive oil, and the salt, then toss everything so it gets combined and forms the Manchego salad.
- Serve the manchego apple salad right away or let it cool for 30 minutes (not more) in the fridge.
Substitution of Ingredients
Just by its name, you can figure out that the main ingredients of this apple cheese salad are cheese and apple, but still, you can change them.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the authentic Spanish version of the apple manchego salad, but it is possible to do some tweaks.
For example, instead of Manchego cheese, you can use sharp white cheddar, Swiss, or any other similar type of cheese that you like.
Besides that, if you don’t like Granny Smith or Honeycrisps, other great alternatives to use for this savory apple salad are Jonathon or Pink Lady.
Lastly, other healthy apple salad recipes call for a low-fat or low-calorie dressing, but we recommend sticking with olive oil and lemon juice for this apple manchego salad (it is healthy too, and delicious).
Try the ensalada de remolacha, a Spanish beet salad with feta, walnuts, and onion with an interesting combination of ingredients that makes it stand out.
Tips on Serving Apple Manchego Salad
The apple manchego salad is the perfect side dish to have for lunch or dinner on a hot summer day.
It is better to serve it cold, so if some of the ingredients were at room temperature then you can let the salad cool in the fridge for a bit before serving.
This apple manchego salad is meant to be served as a side dish because it won’t fill you up as a main dish should.
Some easy Spanish recipes that you can turn into main dishes are the Spanish potato salad and the Spanish macaroni salad.
How to Store Apple Manchego Salad
We love this authentic Spanish dish due to its flavor and how easy it is to make, but one disadvantage is that you can’t store it.
You can keep the apple manchego salad for up to 30 minutes after making it in the fridge, and that’s it.
You can’t freeze it or store it in the fridge for longer because the apple turns bitter and gets a soggy texture.
Some Spanish foods recipes that you can make and store for longer are the Tortilla de patatas and the Spanish seafood salad.
Recipe Card: Apple Manchego Salad
Spanish Apple Manchego Salad Recipe
Take the comeback of the warm on hot days as the perfect excuse to improve your salad game by making new salad recipes.
In this article, we will show you one of the best and most innovative Spanish salads: the apple manchego salad.
As well as other recipes for manchego cheese, the sweet and sour combination takes the dish to a new level, and if you keep scrolling down this article you will learn how to make it.
Ingredients
- 350 gr Manchego cheese
- 3 Honeycrisp apples
- 3 Granny Smith apples
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
- 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash the apples well (because you won't remove the skin). Cut in half and remove the seeds.
- Cut the apples into very thin sticks, the size, and shape of matchsticks. For this, first, cut thin slices and then do the matchstick shapes.
- Cut the manchego cheese, also in the shape and size of matchsticks. Chop the chives into thin slices.
- Place all of it in a bowl. Add the juice of one lemon, the olive oil, and the salt, and toss everything so it gets combined.
- Serve it right away or let it cool for 30 minutes (not more) in the fridge.
Notes
This recipe is better with cheese manchego, but you can replace it with cheddar cheese, sharp white cheddar cheese, or Swiss.
For this apple manchego salad, you just need a small pinch of salt, no more seasoning is needed.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 362Total Fat 25.6gSaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 63mgSodium 508mgCarbohydrates 22.8gFiber 3.6gSugar 16gProtein 17.1g
Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.
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