Quince Paste And Cheese Appetizer Recipes

EASY MEMBRILLO (SWEET QUINCE PASTE)

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a medium pot over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, once the sugar has melted and the mixture begins to bubble, simmer uncovered for an hour or so, stirring occasionally, until the candy thermometer reads 220 degrees F. This doesn't always guaranteed it's ready, so at this point also do a plate test to make sure the mixture is done: Spoon a little of the liquid onto a cold plate and wait a couple of minutes. Push the liquid with your finger and if it wrinkles it is ready. If it doesn't, continue to simmer and re-test. The quince will increasingly change into a deep ruby red color.
• Grease a 8x8 inch glass baking dish. Puree the mixture with an immersion blender or blend in a Vitamix or similar until smooth. Pour the hot mixture into the greased baking dish and smooth the top. Let it cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24-48 hours until firm. Invert the membrillo / quince paste onto a platter (you may need to gently pry it out with a knife). Note: Some recipes call for placing the membrillo in an oven at low temp (125 degrees F) for 8+ hours to firm it up. This membrillo is already firm and perfectly sliceable. If you prefer it even firmer, proceed with dehydrating it.Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 months or longer. For longer storage membrillo can be frozen well-wrapped for up to a year.
• Makes one 8x8 inch square of quince paste.Serve with your cheese & charcuterie board. Traditionally served with manchego but pairs beautifully with most aged, hard cheeses.

QUINCE PASTE

Steps:

• Wash the quince and peel them, reserving the peels. Remove the cores and add them to the peels. Chop the fruit into 2-inch chunks. Tie the peels and cores up in some cheesecloth.
• Place the bundle in a large pot with the quince chinks. Add the chunks of quince and the bundle of peels and cores into a large pot. Add water so that the fruit is covered by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 to 1 ½ hours until the quince chunks are soft and mushy.
• Remove the peels and cores from the quince and discard them.
• Line a colander with cheesecloth. Place the cooked quince in the colander and leave to strain for about 2 hours.
• Blend the strained quince in a food processor until you have a smooth puree. Weigh the quince puree and place it in a large pot. Add an equal amount of granulated sugar.
• Place the pot over low heat and cook for about 1 ½ hours until very thick. You will need to stir the mixture constantly at first to dissolve the sugar and occasionally after that.
• Switch on the oven to the lowest setting (125 °F). Lightly grease or line with parchment paper a 9 inch baking dish . Place the quince paste in the dish and spread it out evenly. Ensure the surface is smooth by leveling it with the back of a spoon. Aim for about a 1 ½ inch thick slab. Leave the paste to cool in the baking dish.
• Place the quince paste in the oven for 8 hours or overnight. The surface should be glossy and not sticky to the touch. Remove it from the oven and once cool, place it in the oven for 4 hours.
• Once the paste is dry, turn it out of the baking dish onto a plate or a parchment paper. Cut into servings (I usually make matchbox size rectangles) and wrap each individually. Store in the refrigerator for 3 months.
• Serve with a Spanish hard cheese like Manchego or with your favourite cheese.

QUINCE PASTE AND CHEESE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Skewer 1 piece of quince paste and 1 piece of queso fresco cheese on a toothpick. Repeat with remaining quince paste and cheese.

MANCHEGO QUINCE SKEWERS

Steps:

• Cut the quince paste into 1-inch cubes and roll them in the crushed almonds. Cut the cheese into 1-inch cubes.
• Put a quince cube onto a toothpick, then a watercress leaf followed by a cube of cheese. Place on a platter and serve.
• Note: Parmigiano-Reggiano can be substituted for the Manchego. Quince paste can be found in cheese shops or Latin markets.

MANCHEGO CHEESE WITH QUINCE PASTE

Steps:

• Cut cheese into 1/4-inch-thick wedges, discarding rind, and cut quince paste into 1/8-inch-thick rectangles. Top cheese wedges with quince paste wedges and arrange on a platter.

MANCHEGO QUINCE PASTE NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Square off curved side of cheese wedge with a knife so it fits slicer, then slice cheese into generous 1/8-inch-thick rectangles (about 8). Arrange in 1 layer on a sheet of parchment or wax paper.
• Cut quince paste into 1/16-inch-thick rectangular slices with slicer or a knife and put on top of Manchego slices, piecing quince-paste slices together to cover cheese evenly. Make "napoleons" by stacking 2 cheese/paste layers together. Press almonds decoratively into quince paste on top.
• Cut stacks into serving pieces (about 1 1/2- by 1/2-inch rectangles or 1-inch squares), trimming edges.