Prosciutto crisps baked in the oven are a great high-protein snack chip. They’re delicious crumbled over pasta, salads or vegetables.
These prosciutto crisps are a porky, salty, crunchy snack you can make on the fly — better than bacon!
Ever find yourself at one of those big-box stores with a one-pound package of sliced prosciutto in your cart? Been there.
After you get tired of eating really excellent ham sandwiches, making the tastiest chicken saltimbocca or making lovely charcuterie boards, here’s something else to do with prosciutto.
Prosciutto is a type of unsmoked Italian dry-cured ham that has a sweet, salty flavor and delicate texture. It’s made from a pork thigh (also called the ham) that’s salted and dry-aged for about a year in cold storerooms.
Traditional authentic prosciutto, sometimes called Parma ham, is an artisanal product of Italy. Prosciutto is very different from American-style bacon, which comes from the belly of the pig and is much fattier and usually smoked.
Prosciutto can be cooked in a variety of ways and used in a multitude of dishes. Prosciutto is an Italian-style ham that has been dry-cured, aged and seasoned. It can be eaten as is or cooked in a variety of ways. The region from which your prosciutto comes makes a big difference in the flavor of the ham.
What can you eat with prosciutto crisps?
- Munch on oven-roasted prosciutto as a snack (they might be even better than bacon-flavored potato chips).
- Crumble prosciutto crisps over pasta, (especially on classic carbonara or cacio e pepe) or mashed potatoes.
- Add to the crisps to soups and all kinds of salads.
- ▢ 12 pieces thin-sliced prosciutto
- Heat oven to 400 (200 C) degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the prosciutto slices on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper so that they don’t overlap, curling the edges like a nest so they don’t get too brown.
- Bake until the slices start to shrivel and turn golden, 9-12 minutes. Keep your eye on it, as the prosciutto can go from crisp to burned quickly.
- Cool on a rack (they will crisp up as they cool). Break into large pieces or crumbles to sprinkle over whatever you like.
What’s The Difference Between Pancetta and Prosciutto? Here’s What to Know About These Italian Meats
FAQ
Is it okay to heat up prosciutto?
What happens when you cook prosciutto?
Can prosciutto be cooked like bacon?
Is prosciutto better cooked or raw?
Can prosciutto be cooked?
Prosciutto can be cooked in a variety of ways and used in a multitude of dishes. Prosciutto is an Italian-style ham that has been dry-cured, aged and seasoned. It can be eaten as is or cooked in a variety of ways. The region from which your prosciutto comes makes a big difference in the flavor of the ham.
How do you cook Prosciutto in the oven?
Preheat your oven to 400ºF/200ºC. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper and place the prosciutto slices with some space in between them. I find it easiest to keep the paper strip on each slice and then peel it off once the prosciutto is on the baking sheet (refer to the photos above). Bake for 11-15 minutes.
Can you cook prosciutto with salt?
That’s because, according to “Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake in the United States”, salt acts both as a preservative and an antimicrobial agent, keeping bacteria, fungus, and other nasties from growing in or on salty cured meats. Now, if you wanted to cook it to enjoy your prosciutto in a crispy format, that’s perfectly fine.
How is prosciutto made?
Prosciutto is made from the hind leg of a pig. Once the leg is cleaned, it is heavily salted with sea salt by a maestro salatore (salt master) and left for several weeks in a cool, dry environment. The salting process removes leftover moisture, creating an nonconducive environment for bacteria to form. It also creates a distinctive flavor.