Melon and Prosciutto Salad

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This Melon and Prosciutto Salad salad says two words in every bite: Italy and summer. Served as an appetizer is a must. I also love it as the main course during lunch, better if al fresco.

Melon & prosciutto salad by enrilemoine

I seasoned this melon and prosciutto salad with ciliegine, arugula and basil, with O Meyer Lemon Olive Oil, sent to me by O Olive Oil & Vinegar as a gift.

The first time I had melon and prosciutto was in my hometown, Caracas, Venezuela. There, Italian restaurants served cantaloupe balls with bite-size prosciutto rolls as an appetizer. That was also the first time I ate fruit and a savory ingredient in the same dish —and I couldn’t appreciate it and found it boring, instead.

Love at second bite

It wasn’t until I went to Italy during the summer of 1991 that I fell in love with a melon and prosciutto salad. That salad also had my favorite arugula, and ciliegine (bite-size mozzarella balls, a little bit smaller than bocconcini.)

Prosciutto and melon salad by enrilemoine

I went back to northern Italy in the summer of 2000 to celebrate my 40th birthday. That trip took me from Milan to Brescia, Verona, Venice, and then to Vienna and Paris.  While in Italy, melon salad with prosciutto became my favorite appetizer. Tossed with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil, it was a real tribute to the flavors of the summer season.

Melon, prosciutto and mozzarella antipasto by enrilemoine

I was craving this salad since I moved to my new place and planted two sweet basils and a purple basil plant. They doubled their size in less than two weeks. OMG, what a joy! I’d forgotten what was to grow my own herbs since my herb garden disappeared with hurricane Irma, back in 2017.

Melon, mozzarella and prosciutto salad by enrilemoine

Two weeks ago we moved and the first thing I did was to get my terracotta planters, some dirt and a few small herb plants. Now, besides my basil, I have thyme, rosemary and flat parsley. Soon, I will have spearmint and maybe arugula too, even if I’m not sure I can grow rockets in South Florida. We will see.

How to make melon & prosciutto salad

Prosciutto and Melon Salad by enrilemoine

Now, back to my recipe. I made it with both cantaloupe and honeydew melons, scooped into little balls. I personally prefer honeydew, but cantaloupe adds that beautiful salmon color, so it’s a must.

Italian antipasto by enrilemoine

To make this salad, I first dressed the arugula with an extraordinary olive oil: O Meyer Lemon Olive Oil. This oil is what its name states: organic Meyer lemon and California Mission olives, all crushed and cold pressed together. Nothing else. Not infused. No extracts of artificial flavoring added. Nada. Absolutely citrusy, it’s the opera prima of master olive oil blender, CEO and founder of O Olive Oil & Vinegar, Greg Hinson.

Melon, prosciutto and mozzarella platter by enrilemoine

Once I dressed my arugula with this singular delicious olive oil, I added the two melon varieties, the ciliegine, prosciutto, and fresh basil, and then drizzle my salad with my balsamic vinegar reduction and some freshly ground black pepper.

Italian antipasto salad by enrilemoine

This salad is heaven on earth. The sweetness of the melons contrasts with the nutty bitterness of the arugula, the citrusy olive oil, the creaminess of the mozzarella and the saltiness of the prosciutto, all topped with the intense acidic sweetness of the balsamic vinegar reduction. I couldn’t ask for more.

A few notes about the ingredients

  • Scooping melons could be the most inefficient way to cut melons: there is a lot of waste. But you can save the scraps for other uses, including smoothies, granitas, mojitos, margaritas, sorbets, popsicles, and gazpachos.
  • Not that you need a melon baller, but the little balls look so cute that I definitely recommend you to get one. You can order one online.
  • There,  you can also order the superb O Meyer Lemon Olive Oil.
  • Learn more about O Olive Oil & Vinegar and their amazing sustainable business in California.
Basil by enrilemoine

Following is my recipe. I hope you like it as much as I do. Thanks for subscribing to my Youtube channel and visiting my Amazon store.

Melon and Prosciutto Salad
5 from 38 votes

Melon & Prosciutto Salad

This salad says two words in every bite: Italy and summer. Served as an appetizer is a must. I also love it as main course during lunch.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 200kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups baby arugula
  • 2-3 tablespoons Olive Oil I used O Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
  • 2 cups cantaloupe scooped in balls
  • 2 cups honeydew scooped in balls
  • 1 ½ cups fresh mozzarella I used ciliegine (cherry size mozzarella balls)
  • 6 slices prosciutto torn
  • 10 basil leaves cut in chiffonade
  • 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar reduction
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a large bowl add the arugula and season it with the olive oil.
  • Add the melons, mozzarella and combine.
  • Distribute the prosciutto evenly.
  • Sprinkle the basil.
  • Toss with the balsamic vinegar reduction.
  • Crack some black pepper on top.
  • Serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Melon & Prosciutto Salad
Amount Per Serving (300 g)
Calories 200 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 250mg11%
Potassium 346mg10%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 2294IU46%
Vitamin C 31mg38%
Calcium 166mg17%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Appetizers, Salads
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: melon and prosciutto platter, melon and prosciutto salad, melon and prosciutto salad recipe
Author: Enri

Notes

If you have issues with sugar, you can make your balsamic vinegar reduction by simply reducing the vinegar without adding sugar. 

Enri
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63 thoughts on “Melon and Prosciutto Salad”

  4. 5 stars
    I just love melon and prosciutto. I have served it as an appetizer. Though, this salad looks marvelous. The presentation is divine. I’ll try it one of these days. And also the olive oil that you recommend. If you recommend it, it must be amazing like all the products you use in your recipes.

    Reply

  6. 5 stars
    Enriqueta que delicia de verdad. No me canso de decir que eres una artista en la cocina. Algo tan simple como melon y prosciutto. La presentación de tus platos, fotografías y redacción son impecables.

    Reply

  14. 5 stars
    Enriqueta que divina ensalada!!! Yo consigo acá en el pueblo cantaulope y el honeydew? Y me imagino que con la albahaca que tienes en casa, esa ensalada debió quedar súper fresca y crunchy, pero a la vez súper suave con la frutas, y el queso…

    Reply

    • Perdón… quería decir aquí consigo cantaulope, pero cual es la diferencia entre esa y la otra opción?

    • Queda mundial la ensaladita. En cristiano para nosotros: Cantaloupe o cantalupo, el melon rosado. Honeydew, el melon verde. Los franceses tienen un melon rosado que supera al cantalupo y se llama Charentei y es de piel lisa y entre verde y gris. Es la gloria.

  19. 5 stars
    Looks amazingly delicious, I might try to copy your recipe and see how it will end up. Hopefully, as delish as this.

    Reply

  25. 5 stars
    Bueno tú como siempre lo has hecho muy elaborado y con una presentación preciosa, yo soy más de cortar el melón y dejar al lado el jamón jejeje o también me gusta mucho y es muy refrescante hacer el melón como una sopa fría mmmmmmmm

    Reply

  26. 5 stars
    What a beautiful salad that makes. I’ve never even thought to add melon in my salads before and I make all sorts of them. I’m going to save your recipe and give it a try. I think even the grandkids would love this salad, and they are picky.

    Reply
5 from 38 votes

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Soy Enriqueta Lemoine

I am a writer who cooks or a cook who writes: the order of the qualities does not alter the product. Since 2010 I made SAVOIR FAIRE the place where my two passions converge and now I develop recipes professionally and work as a strategist and creator of digital content, including the production of cooking videos. Read more about Enri.

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