Serrano Ham And Manchego Cheese Plate Recipes

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.

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.

EGGS WITH SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CHEESE, GREEN OLIVE RELISH, AND MIGAS

Steps:

• For relish:
• Combine all ingredients in small bowl. DO AHEAD: Relish can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• For migas:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Stir olive oil and garlic in large bowl. Add bread cubes and toss to coat well. Transfer bread to heavy large baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted yet still chewy, about 10 minutes. Cool.
• For salad:
• Whisk olive oil, vinegar, and shallots in large bowl. Add arugula, frisée, and migas; toss well. Season lightly with fleur de sel. Divide salad among 4 plates.
• For eggs:
• Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add eggs; immediately cover top of each egg with cheese, dividing evenly. Cover and cook until egg whites are just set and cheese softens, about 2 minutes. Carefully transfer 1 egg to each plate; top with ham and season with pepper. Top each egg with relish, dividing evenly.
• A Spanish cheese made from sheep's milk; sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

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).