Ham, Cheese, and Chorizo Appetizer With Bread

By
Lisa & Tony Sierra
Lisa & Tony Sierra
Lisa and Tony Sierra are freelance writers and Spanish food experts who lead culinary tours of the country.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/23/21
Ham, Cheese, and Chorizo Appetizer With Bread

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 32 servings

This is a simple, but delicious appetizer or tapa that everyone enjoys. It involves very little or no cooking, and you can put it together at the last minute. Although you could simply set out a basket of bread and a platter of Manchego cheese, jamón Serrano, and Spanish chorizo, you would probably see it disappear almost instantly. Serving the tapa prepared on individual baguette slices makes it last longer.

​​​Two Special Ingredient Notes

  • Spanish Chorizo: This sausage is very different than Mexican chorizo. Spanish chorizo is a firm, dry sausage where most Mexican chorizo is fresh and soft, not cured sausage. It also has different spices than Spanish Chorizo, so it is not a good substitute for this recipe. If you need a substitute, try using Portuguese Linguica sausage, which is very similar to Spanish Chorizo.
  • Serrano Ham: Depending on where you live, Serrano Ham may be a bit difficult to purchase locally. If a few calls to specialty supermarkets and/or international grocery stores in your area does not turn up anything, try ordering online.

Ingredients

  • 2 French-style baguettes
  • 1/2 pound (250 grams) Manchego cheese
  • 1/4 pound (125 grams) Serrano ham
  • 1 pound (500 grams) Spanish chorizo sausage

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ham, Cheese, and Chorizo Appetizer With Bread ingredients

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  2. Slice the crusty baguette, making the slices about a 1/3-inch thick.

    bread sliced into pieces

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  3. Slice the Manchego cheese, approximately 1/8 – 1/4-inch thick. Slicing the cheese thinly may prove tricky because it is dry and crumbly. Don't worry, only small pieces are needed to place on each piece of bread.

    Slice the Manchego cheese

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  4. Slice jamón in paper-thin slices if using a whole piece. For jamón that is already sliced, cut the slices into pieces small enough to fit on the top of the baguette slices.

    jamón pieces on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  5. Slice the Spanish chorizo into pieces about 1/4-inch thick, ready for frying, optional. Some people prefer to simply slice the chorizo and serve, while others enjoy it more lightly fried.

    Slice the Spanish chorizo into pieces

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  6. Place a large open frying pan with a heavy bottom on the stove with a teaspoon of olive oil and move to cover the bottom with oil. Turn burner on medium heat. Place the chorizo into the pan and fry pieces for 5 to 10 minutes, turning as necessary. Remove as soon as the chorizo is cooked.

    Chorizo in a skillet

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  7. Place the baguette slices on the platter. Place one piece of cheese and a piece of ham on each one. On others, place a piece of chorizo.

    bread with cheese and meat on top

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  8. Serve with a red wine such as a Rioja or a Ribera.

    Ham, Cheese, and Chorizo Appetizer With Bread, served with red wine

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
59 Calories
4g Fat
2g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 32
Amount per serving
Calories 59
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 16mg 5%
Sodium 136mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Protein 5g
Calcium 16mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)