This manchego grilled cheese with romesco sauce is basically Spain in a cheese sandwich. Sharp and nutty manchego cheese gets enhanced by the sweet and tangy homemade romesco sauce. If you are ready for a change, we dare you to try this amazing manchego-romesco combo!
Ingredients for Manchego Cheese Sandwich
Romesco sauce. This link will take you to our recipe for a homemade sauce.
Manchego Cheese. A delicious, earthy, nutty, beautiful semi-hard cheese.
Ciabatta Bread. Artisan ciabatta makes such a tasty sandwich and adds so much crunch to this grilled cheese recipe.
How to Make a Manchego Cheese Sandwich
Begin by preheating your oven. Even though it is rare for a melted cheese sandwich to be made in the oven, it works perfectly for this one.
Slice each ciabatta roll or baguette in half. Evenly spread the romesco sauce on each half. Then, arrange about two ounces of cheese per half on one side and add the top of the sandwich. Bake for a few minutes until the cheese is completely melted and the bread is toasty and warm through.
This recipe works perfectly in a toaster oven and can also be made in a skillet, though it will be harder to get the cheese to melt because ciabatta bread tends to be thick.
FAQ
What is Romesco Sauce?
Romesco is a nutty, slightly sweet dipping sauce from the Catalunya region of Spain. It's typically served with roasted vegetables and meats and makes a great spread for sandwiches or simply slathered over toasted bread.
What is Manchego Cheese?
A nutty, and meltable cheese that pairs perfectly with toasted nuts and is shockingly good with Romesco sauce. It is a Spanish sheep's milk cheese that can only be made in the region of La Mancha, south of Madrid, in the country's high central plateau. This cheese is softer until it is aged and then is firm and crumbly. Because it is made from sheep's milk, it is has a higher fat content, making it buttery and perfect for a cheese sandwich.
Can you use Manchego cheese in grilled cheese?
Yes. This cheese makes a brilliant, elegant grilled cheese sandwich. Manchego melts beautifully and has so much more flavor than your typical cheese sandwich.
What is Ciabatta Bread?
This Italian crunchy bread has a moist and soft interior and a perfectly crispy crust. It stands up well to a panini press and is really delicious when freshly baked. Ciabatta bread is one of the best for baked grilled cheese because it is naturally crunchy and does not need fried to be amazing.
How do you make a grilled cheese sandwich?
The best way to make a baked grilled cheese sandwich is to layer bread and cheese and bake it for three to five minutes at 375ºF. If you want to make a fried grilled cheese sandwich, you need to butter the outside of each slice of bread and then layer the cheese on the interior of the sandwich. Cook it for 3-5 minutes on each side to toast the bread and melt the cheese.
How many calories in a grilled cheese sandwich?
There are so many variables to this it is difficult to say. It totally depends on the ingredients used. Your best bet is to add the calories for each slice of bread, the cheeses, the sauces, and any fat. Once you've added the individual calories of each of these things you know the total number of calories in your sandwich.
Is a grilled cheese sandwich bad for you?
Again, this has so many variables and is difficult to define. The good thing about our Manchego cheese sandwich is that it does not have added fat from the butter. However, the sandwich still contains fat and carbs.
Tips for Amazing Results
Kosher Manchego Cheese is sometimes hard to find in regular stores. You can find it HERE or HERE.
It is totally worth making a batch of romesco sauce and using it on grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, or as a dip for bread or challah.
Ciabatta bread also works very well on a panini press.
Remove the rind from your Manchego.
More Great Cheese Sandwiches to Try
Vegan Caramelized Onion & Apple Grilled Cheese
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Feta Cheese Tomatoes and Spinach
The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Vegan ingredients or regular ingredients.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Manchego cheese and Romesco Sauce
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 mins
- Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Romesco is a nutty, slightly sweet dipping sauce from the Catalunya region of Spain. It's typically served with roasted vegetables and meats and makes a great spread for sandwiches or simply slathered over toasted bread.
Ingredients
- 2-2oz ciabatta rolls of 2 - 2 ounce pieces of regular or whole wheat baguette
- 4 tbsp Romesco Sauce (Click here for recipe) See Note 2
- 4oz Manchego cheese, sliced thin, rind removed See Note 1
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F
- Slice each roll or baguette in half.
- Evenly spread the romesco sauce on each half. Arrange 2 ounces of cheese per bread half and top with the other halves to form 2 sandwiches.
- Place sandwiches in the oven and bake 3-5 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and the bread is toasted. You may also use your toaster oven to make this grilled cheese or a skillet.
Notes
- Kosher Manchego Cheese is sometimes hard to find in regular stores. You can find it HERE or HERE
- It is totally worth making a batch of romesco sauce and use it on grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes or as a dip for bread or challah
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Entree
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: Spain
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 grilled cheese
- Calories: 417
- Sugar: 3.6
- Sodium: 796
- Fat: 19.5
- Saturated Fat: 10.4
- Unsaturated Fat: .7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 39.1
- Fiber: 2.9
- Protein: 22.7
- Cholesterol: 40.5
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
Great twist on grilled chese!! Love it!!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you very much!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
Sorry for sending my comment more than once, by the way 🙂 Computer problems!
Vicky & Ruth
No problem at all!!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
This looks amazing!! I've never had romesco sauce before but the recipe looks just gorgeous!!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you. You should try it. It's worth the work.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
If you feed me these I'll come be your intern!!!! Is she doing YJ year course? Many of my friends did it and absolutely loved it. I hope to get back to Israel soon. It's been 10 years too long!
Vicky & Ruth
We will welcome you with open arms and we will feed you too! It's been 7 years too long for us. Next year I will have an excuse to travel to Israel. 😉
Raquel
Thank you!!! I am going to miss you guys too but come on...going to Israel is an experience of a lifetime!! Although this grilled cheese is very tempting I think I am gonna have to decline! Don't worry you guys have 8 more months with me!! :p
Vicky & Ruth
We will have to come up with another strategy 😉 or take advantage of the next 8 months and make the best of it.
Hindy
That grilled cheese looks amazing. I must get around to making some of that romesco sauce. Looks so flavorful!
Vicky & Ruth
The recipe makes a big batch, it's not only good in a grilled cheese, but it works beautifully with roasted vegetables as well.
Jamie Geller
no suggestions BUT if you find someone ask if they have a twin and send them my way 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
It's a deal!
Sina (@thekosherspoon)
that sounds delicious. I love dressed up version of classics.
Sina (@thekosherspoon)
this will even pair well with the tomato soup I made 😉
Vicky & Ruth
That would pair beautifully!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs
Romesco and manchego are two of my favorite ingredients ever! This sandwich looks so good!
Also, I hope your girl has fun in Israel. It sounds like a nice trip 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
I am sure she will have a great time. Thank you Consuelo!
Ronnie Fein
Ohmeohmy this looks so good it is almost crunchable right through the computer. YUMMMMMMM!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you very much, you can't beat crunchy bread!
Tamar Genger @joyofkosher
I love Romesco and almost always use it for roast potatoes and to spread on bread on Shabbat, but never think of adding to a sandwich. I am sure your daughter will love this, but it can't beat fresh falafel in Israel and least we have skype.
Vicky & Ruth
I agree with you, we can't beat fresh falafel in Israel! O well, I guess I will have an excuse to go to Israel now 🙂
John@Kitchen Riffs
Gosh, this looks terrific! You've made a simple grilled cheese sandwich a work of art! Good stuff - thanks.
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you very much. We appreciate the compliment.
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
My mouth is watering just looking at these pictures! I love manchego, too. Yum!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you, manchego is by far our favorite cheese.
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
If I was her, you could definitely bribe me with this manchego romesco grilled cheese sandwich - even though I am lactose intolerant 🙂
It loos mouthwatering!
Vicky & Ruth
Don't deprive yourself you can try this recipe with some non dairy cheese!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Mmm, this is one incredible grilled cheese! I would be your intern if I got to eat this;) Sounds like you have a wonderful niece, and I hope she has a great last eight months with you guys! Merry Christmas!
Alison@AliBabka
looks heavenly!! My mouth is watering!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Alison!
Yosef - This American Bite
That looks so amazing that I have no idea where to start complimenting you.
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Yosef, that's very sweet of you.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen
What a yummy looking sandwich! I know you are going to miss your daughter tons, but what a great opportunity!
Vicky & Ruth
It is a great opportunity, at least we have phone and FaceTime!
Monica
My goodness...how I want to dig my teeth into that crunchy bread and that warm cheese and the romesco sauce!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you! Nothing better than crunchy bread and melted cheese, we agree!
Chanie@BusyInBrooklyn
I would love to make my own Romesco sauce from scratch. Thanks for this great recipe.
Couldn't Be Parve
I love the addition of romesco sauce, it looks so delicious!
Melissa {lilmisscakes}
This looks so good, no wonder your daughter loves it so much.
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you, it reminds us of home...
Kelly
This sandwich looks so good, love the oozing cheeses. Now this is my kind of grilled cheese sandwich! Love the twist and it sounds delicious 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
If you have a chance, give it a try, it is worth it!