Under the blazing sun, the Italian summer arrives on a small plate of prosciutto e melone. A slice of sweet, ripe melon wrapped in salty prosciutto, maybe drizzled with honey, it’s a seasonal delight resting at your fingertips. It’s the kind of thing that makes summer snacking exactly what it should be — fresh, fuss-free, and luxuriously indulgent. Now here’s where it gets interesting: Melon isn’t the only option. While it will always be a stellar companion to prosciutto, you can invite other summer fruits to the table and still have a snack worth fawning over.
For those who haven’t tried it, pairing meat with fruit sounds like a recipe for disaster, but the reality is anything but. The ham is just delicate enough that it doesn’t clash with the fruits. Instead, its subtle sweetness lends the perfect base for the fruits to meld into — whether it’s floral-scented peaches or honey-laced figs — while the savory, salty tones make for a captivating contrast. As you’re going through different types of fruits, it’s the most exciting spin of the flavor wheel, introducing the palate to a brand new world where anything is possible.
The fruity possibilities are endless
Stone fruits, in general, are the perfect candidates. Fire up the grill, toss ripe peaches, plums, or apricots onto it, and with prosciutto wrapped around them, your cookout will be phenomenal right from the start. Better yet, turn them into fruit kebobs for the ultimate summer appetizer. But don’t stop there, not when you can top them off with burrata cheese or goat cheese for a creamy, milky twist, or balsamic vinegar to throw tangy ribbons into the flavor mix. You can also simmer the fruits in wine and spices for a complex depth if that smoky undertone doesn’t suit the palate.
Tropical fruits — sweet, fragrant, and full of vibrancy — are another perfect match. The flavor contrast alone makes it one of the most creative ways to serve prosciutto. Just imagine little prosciutto-wrapped pineapple bites served with a pineapple-juice-laced dipping sauce, or mango cubes layered with cream cheese and hot spices, and how gorgeous they will be as snacks or appetizers.
Not just summer harvests, but fall fruits can be considered. Apples and pears, with their sweet-tart melody, are a lovely pick for those looking for a different take on this dish. Ripe figs, roasted to bring out those hidden caramelized edges, make the most delectable contrast to the savory meat. The crunchy, sweet bites of persimmon are not to be underestimated, either, especially when they’re accompanied by honey and cheese. Bursting with juicy tartness, grapes are phenomenal snacks, and if you’ve got time for frozen grapes, all the better.
