Melon Skewers

Melon skewers are a great idea for a fresh and light appetizer, perfect for the summer. Moreover, they are easy and quick to prepare. For an Italian touch, I suggest pairing them with cured ham, creating a classic sweet-and-salty contrast enjoyed in many dishes of our cuisine.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe melon (Cantaloupe or similar)
• Cured ham in thin slices
• Fresh mint leaves (optional)
• Reduced balsamic or honey (optional)

Preparation

1. Cut the melon in half, remove the seeds and the peel, and then cut the flesh into cubes of about 2 cm on each side.
2. Take the slices of cured ham and cut them into strips wide enough to wrap around the melon cubes.
3. Wrap each melon cube with a strip of cured ham and thread them onto wooden skewers, alternating them. If desired, you can insert a mint leaf between the cubes to add freshness.
4. If you like, you can finish the skewers with a drizzle of reduced balsamic or a touch of honey on the surface for an extra note of flavor.
5. Arrange the skewers on a serving plate and serve them chilled.

To make the dish even more interesting, you could also add other types of fruit to your skewer, such as strawberries or grapes, or cheese, such as mozzarella or feta cubes, to create additional flavor combinations.

Curiosity

Melon with ham is a classically Italian appetizer, especially in the summer. The origin of this combination is uncertain, but it is known to be appreciated because the refreshing and sweet melon pleasantly contrasts with the savory and somewhat dry flavor of the ham.