Prosciutto e Melone – The Ultimate Italian Summer Starter
Prosciutto e Melone (Prosciutto and Melon) is a classic Italian antipasto that celebrates sweet and salty perfection. It’s effortlessly elegant, refreshingly light, and ready in minutes—making it the perfect starter for summer dinners, brunches, or aperitivo hour.
🍽 Ingredients (Servings: 4)
- 1 ripe cantaloupe or honeydew melon
- 8 thin slices of prosciutto di Parma or San Daniele
- Fresh basil or mint leaves (optional)
- Cracked black pepper (optional)
- Extra virgin olive oil or balsamic glaze (optional drizzle)
👨🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Melon:
🍈 Slice melon in half, remove seeds, and cut into wedges or cubes. Remove rind carefully for easy eating.
2️⃣ Wrap the Prosciutto:
🥓 Gently drape or wrap a slice of prosciutto around each melon piece. You can also layer them flat on a serving platter.
3️⃣ Plate and Garnish:
🌿 Arrange wrapped melon pieces on a chilled platter. Garnish with fresh basil or mint, a crack of black pepper, and a light drizzle of olive oil or balsamic glaze, if desired.
4️⃣ Serve Immediately:
🍽 Serve cold as an elegant appetizer or light lunch alongside crisp white wine or Prosecco.
📦 Amazon Must-Haves to help you create the best Prosciutto e Melone
- 🔪 Melon Baller or Fruit Knife – For perfect melon presentation.
- 🧊 Chilled Serving Platter – Keeps it fresh and fancy.
- 🥓 Prosciutto di Parma – Authentic, thin-sliced, and melt-in-your-mouth good.
- 🍈 Organic Cantaloupe or Honeydew – Juicy, sweet, and fragrant.
- 🍶 Balsamic Glaze – A gourmet touch to enhance flavor.
- 🌿 Fresh Basil Starter Kit – Grow your own aromatic garnish.
💡 Helpful Tip
Use ripe, chilled melon for best texture and flavor, and choose thinly sliced prosciutto so it wraps without tearing and melts in your mouth.