Gastronomy of Herencia

La Mancha flavour with protected designation of origin

Herencia's cuisine is rooted in the pastoral and farming traditions of La Mancha. Hearty dishes born of the land, two protected designations of origin backing its star products — wine and cheese — and Carnival pastries that sweeten the winter. Eating in Herencia means tasting the very essence of Castilla-La Mancha.

Pan of golden migas manchegas with pork rinds, chorizo, and grapes, served on a wooden table

Traditional dishes

Migas manchegas (fried breadcrumbs)

The ultimate shepherd's dish: wheat-flour crumbs fried with bacon, chorizo, grapes, and crispy pork rinds.

Bowl of gachas manchegas with glossy paprika surface and fried garlic, with bread and pork rinds alongside

Traditional dishes

Gachas manchegas (grass-pea porridge)

Thick porridge of grass-pea flour with paprika, olive oil, and fried garlic — star of the Carnival cooking contest.

Wedge of cured Manchego cheese with its distinctive rind, on a wooden board with olive oil and rosemary

Protected designation products

Manchego Cheese (PDO)

Spain's most famous sheep's cheese, protected by designation of origin, cured in the traditional local style.

Glass of red wine with La Mancha vineyards in the background at sunset, grape bunches in the foreground

Protected designation products

La Mancha Wine (PDO)

Herencia is surrounded by vineyards within the world's largest wine denomination of origin.

Plate of asadillo manchego with strips of roasted red pepper, tomato, and garlic on rustic ceramic

Traditional dishes

Asadillo manchego (roasted pepper salad)

Cold salad of roasted red peppers, tomato, garlic, and olive oil — fresh and bursting with flavour.

Earthenware pot of gazpachos manchegos with flatbread pieces and game meat

Traditional dishes

Gazpachos manchegos (game stew with flatbread)

A hot game stew with unleavened flatbread — nothing like Andalusian gazpacho.

Tray of fried flores manchegas dusted with sugar and cinnamon

Pastries

Carnival sweets

Flores, pestiños, rosquillas and other fried pastries that sweeten the Carnival season.