Manchego Cheese Bites (VIDEO)

Easy Manchego Cheese Bites are a simple appetizer made with salty prosciutto and sweet fig jam. These take almost no time and zero cooking skills to make, but they turn out looking so impressive and fly right off the plate.

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I love making bite-sized appetizers, like my Stuffed Olives, Grape Jelly Meatballs, Spring Rolls, and Stuffed Mushrooms, since they are so much easier to eat while standing and chatting. These Manchego Cheese, Prosciutto, and Fig Jam Bites are just as simple to grab and go, but they look and taste so elegant.

Manchego Cheese Bites Video

This simple Manchego Cheese bites recipe is as easy as it gets! Watch Natasha use three ingredients to make this elegant and tasty appetizer.

Easy Manchego Cheese Appetizer

Manchego is one of my favorite cheeses for appetizers – you should see them arranged on a Charcuterie Board – it’s adorbs! (Do people still say adorbs? I started and now I can’t stop).

As I was saying, Manchego is sturdy and keeps its shape, so it’s great as a base that you can build on. It’s also a very tasty cheese. I buy mine at Costco where they come in 1 1/2 lb wedges. I cut those wedges into 3 and keep them vacuum-sealed in the refrigerator until I need them.

How This Appetizer Recipe was Born

Thanks to my fellow blogger and good friend, Lena, who catered our food blogging retreat this year. She always makes the best food, and I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy her cooking at several retreats—it’s always something I look forward to. You should check her out on Lena’s Kitchen Blog. She has such a gift for cooking and hosting, and she’s just a good human.

Anyway, she made these Manchego Cheese Bites for one of our retreats, and I was smitten. I recreated it for my family and friends, and it’s been a hit every time.

Ingredients for Manchego Cheese Bites

Let’s get right to it. You’ll need just 3 ingredients for an elegant, easy-to-make appetizer your guests will adore. If that’s just too simple for you—check out the variation ideas I’ve included below.

• Manchego Cheese – Buy this in a wedge and follow the directions in step 1 to trim the rind and slice.
• Fig spread or preserves – fig complements the cheese and prosciutto well, but you can swap any type of preserves you prefer—maybe grape jelly or Plum Jam would be the closest substitute.
• Prosciutto – we buy packaged prosciutto, but if you’re asking at the deli counter, be sure to get Proscuitto de Parma (also called Prosciutto Crudo) cut as thinly as possible.

How to Make Manchego Cheese Bites

This Manchego Cheese appetizer is so easy it almost feels like cheating. Your guests will love these tasty bites, and you won’t have to tell them how simple they are.

• How to Cut Manchego Cheese – Trim the edges off the three sides of the Manchego wedge, but leave the back rind for holding. Slice into thin triangles and then arrange for serving. (only cut what you plan to serve since the cheese keeps best in a bloc)

2. Add Preserves – Dollop a 1/2 tsp of preserves on the wider end of the wedge—you only need a small amount, so the preserves don’t run off the cheese slice. 
3. Add Prosciutto – Fold a ribbon of the prosciutto into a bunch, and place over the fig dollop. How elegant and effortless! Serve right away, or cover and store in the fridge.

These easy Manchego Cheese Bites combine an elegant stack of cheese, fig preserves, and prosciutto. It is such a tasty and satisfying flavor combination and takes just moments to prepare. They are perfect for Holiday menus or your next potluck event.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes

When you’re hosting an event, it’s great to have a dish that impresses without taking a ton of work. Once you try these Manchego Cheese Bites, check out these other simple appetizers that will steal the show but not your prep time.

• Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini
• Authentic Guacamole
• Easy Cheese Ball
• Jalapeno Poppers
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Hummus Recipe
• 7-Layer Dip Recipe
• Classic Bruschetta