Pata de Mulo is a wonderful introduction to Spanish sheep's milk cheeses. It has a mild sharpness with a firm texture. It is somewhat like a mild, smooth Parmesan cheese. Serve it at room temperature with fruit or membrillo and a glass of Spanish red wine.

With a high cream content, its texture is smooth and pleasant. And compared to other sheep's milk cheeses it is relatively low in acidity, making for a flavorful yet approachable cheese.

Pata de Mulo is a classic semi-aged cheese from Castille y León, formed on a wooden plank into its distinctive oblong shape, which looks a bit like a mule's hoof - hence its colorful name! It is aged from 3 to 4 months until it is fairly dense with a pearly gray rind.

Bring this Pata de Mulo Spanish cheese to room temperature before slicing. It may have a slight amount of harmless mold on its rind, simply wipe away with a cloth and some vegetable oil.