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Transparency of Manchego Cheese

Katherine Hysmith
As with all of Chef Achatz’s inventive recipes, this dish relies on precision. Grab a ruler, and sharpen your knives - this recipe is well worth the effort.

Ingredients
  

OLIVE OIL PUDDING

  • cups whole milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 ⁄3 cup sugar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 3 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ¼ cup olive oil

ROASTED GARLIC

  • 2 heads garlic
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

ROASTED PEPPERS

  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 yellow bell pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

CROUTONS

  • 1 small loaf sourdough bread

MANCHEGO

DRIED OLIVES

  • 20 Niçoise olives

GARNISH

  • 3 white anchovies cut into ¼-inch pieces
  • 32 arugula leaves
  • 16 edible flowers such as arugula or pansy

Instructions
 

OLIVE OIL PUDDING

  • Fill a large bowl with ice water, and set a smaller metal bowl inside.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat, bring milk to a boil. In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Slowly whisk half the milk into yolk mixture. Pour mixture back into saucepan, reduce heat to low, and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, and whisk in oil.
  • Strain mixture through a sieve into bowl set over ice water. Let cool, then transfer to a squeeze bottle. Refrigerate.

ROASTED GARLIC

  • Heat oven to 375°F. Coat garlic heads in oil, and wrap in foil. Roast until tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Remove foil, and let cool. Peel cloves, keeping them whole. Set aside.

ROASTED PEPPERS

  • Coat peppers with olive oil, and char over open flame until skin is completely blackened, about 15 minutes each.
  • Transfer to a container, cover tightly, and let cool. Next, remove pepper skin, ribs and seeds. Cut into ½-inch squares. Set aside in containers.

CROUTONS

  • Heat oven to 325°F. Remove crust from loaf; cut loaf into ¼-inch cubes. Spread bread cubes in a single layer on baking sheet and toast, turning every few minutes, until browned. Cool, and store in airtight container.

MANCHEGO

  • Cut cheese into eight 1/16-inch-thick slices. Trim each slice into a 4-inch square. Cover with parchment paper, and refrigerate. Cut remaining cheese into ¼-inch dice. Store in airtight container.

DRIED OLIVES

  • Pit olives. Line dehydrator tray with mesh screen. Place olives on tray; dehydrate at 150°F for 24 hours. Store in airtight container.

ASSEMBLY

  • Set broiler to high. In roughly a 4-inch square section of an oven-safe plate, pipe a thin layer of olive oil pudding. On top of the pudding, add 1 clove garlic, 1 square of each pepper, 1 crouton, 1 piece diced manchego, 2 to 3 dehydrated olives, and 1 piece anchovy. Cover ingredients completely with a chilled manchego slice.
  • Place in broiler, and cook until thoroughly melted. Repeat with remaining pudding, fillings, and manchego slices. Garnish with arugula leaves and edible flowers.