Salty, buttery, savory, and sliced so thinly it just melts in your mouth, prosciutto is a dream on any charcuterie board. The savory flavor of this dry-cured ham pairs well with almost anything you throw at it, making it easy to choose a variety of cheeses to accompany it on your board. Yet some match better than others, so we’ve put together the best cheese and prosciutto wine pairings for an incredible board.
Prosciutto is ready to eat right out of the package, and its delicate flavors are a delightful contrast to the cheeses and wines we’ve listed below. Occasionally, you may want to add a crispy texture to your charcuterie bites by crisping the prosciutto in the oven.
To do this, lay a few slices onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake them in a 400F oven until they begin to turn golden, about 10 minutes (watch them closely as they can burn easily). They’ll crisp up further while you have them cooling on a rack. Once completely cool, break them into large pieces and either place them directly on your charcuterie board or use them to top crostini bites with any of our prosciutto pairings at the bottom of this post.
We’ve created a great guide to prosciutto if you’re interested in learning more about its origins, how it’s made, its different forms, and even how to cook with it.
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Prosciutto Cheese Pairings
You really can’t go wrong with any cheese you choose. Hard cheeses match its saltiness while creamy, rich cheeses are an opposite match, but all are incredible pairings. We do have our favorites, however, so here’s our list of best of the best:
Aged Parmesan – The fatty, buttery prosciutto is an absolute dream with salty, crumbly aged parmesan.
Fresh mozzarella or Burrata – There’s a reason why Italians add both fresh mozzarella and prosciutto to sandwiches: the creaminess of the cheese is a classic pairing with prosciutto.
Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese – The strong flavors of Gorgonzola stand up well to salty, buttery prosciutto. Add a fresh fig for one incredible bite.
Brie – Brie is creamy and rich, which pairs perfectly with the savory saltiness of prosciutto. Put some on a crispy crostini with a smear of raspberry jam.
Prosciutto Wine Pairings
The right prosciutto wine pairing can elevate your charcuterie board from good to incredible! You’ll notice a common theme among our choices below: wines with high acidity and high tannins make the best wine pairings for prosciutto. Sparkling wines like Prosecco are a wonderful beverage pairing, or you may opt for a dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio. You’ll want to do a wine and charcuterie tasting often after this, especially if you have prosciutto di Parma or prosciutto di San Daniele on your board.
Sangiovese – High in tannins with cherry fruit flavors and high acidity, Sangiovese is our top choice for red wines as it balances the fattiness of prosciutto perfectly.
Pinot Noir – A light pinot noir has high acidity but low tannins, making it an ideal pairing for this salty meat.
Chianti Classico – With good acidity and firm tannins, the subtle sweetness of the meat, along with its fat content, make Chianti an excellent choice.
Cabernet Franc – A peppery Cabernet and thin slices of savory, buttery prosciutto make an elegant food pairing.
Prosecco – Prosecco is a little sweet and slightly acidic, which is incredible with the saltiness of prosciutto. This might be the best prosciutto pairing of them all.
Sparkling Rosé – Prosecco is a fantastic pairing with prosciutto for the same reasons that a dry Rosé Prosecco makes a wonderful match. It has notes of strawberry and rose petals, which makes it the perfect wine pairing for salty prosciutto.
Sauvignon Blanc – The brilliant acidity of Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect pairing for rich, savory prosciutto.
Pinot Grigio – A dry wine with high acidity, a high-quality Pinot Grigio is a great wine that makes a harmonious combination with prosciutto.
Beer Pairings
Go for a pale ale or a pilsner that will complement the rich fattiness and saltiness of the prosciutto.
Perfect Prosciutto Charcuterie Bites
Pair high-quality Italian prosciutto with any of these flavor combinations for an elegant snack that will take your happy hour to the next level. All you need is a glass of wine!
You can put any of these ingredients separately on a charcuterie board or assemble them yourself with crisp crostini and arrange them on a platter for a savory treat that’s easy for your guests to enjoy. A great example is this Prosciutto Crostini with Balsamic Glaze.
Add prosciutto to any of the following flavor combinations:
- Brie, honey, fresh basil
- Brie, fresh fig, honey
- Brie, green apple, honey (or hot honey)
- Brie, cranberry sauce, chopped walnuts
- Burrata cheese, balsamic glaze, honey, fresh basil
- Burrata cheese, fresh peach slices, fresh basil
- Fresh mozzarella, arugula, balsamic glaze
- Fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced tomato, fresh basil, balsamic glaze
- Fresh mozzarella, sliced Castelvetrano green olives, drizzle of high-quality olive oil
- Goat cheese, basil pesto
- Goat cheese, cranberry sauce
- Goat cheese, thinly sliced plums, fresh thyme
- Goat cheese, apricot jam, fresh thyme
- Gorgonzola, thinly sliced pear
- Gorgonzola, dates, honey
- Gorgonzola, figs, honey
- Gorgonzola, fig jam, balsamic glaze
- Parmesan, dried apricots or apricot jam
- Parmesan, fresh figs, truffle oil
- Parmesan, thinly sliced apple
- Ricotta cheese, hot honey
- Ricotta cheese, arugula, honey
- Ricotta cheese, thinly sliced melon, balsamic glaze, fresh basil
- Ricotta cheese, crisp-tender asparagus, balsamic glaze
More Ways to Use Prosciutto
- Tear slices and add them to a salad, especially if you first crisp it in the oven.
- For an easy appetizer, wrap some melon balls (canteloupe is a great choice), use food picks to hold it together, and arrange it on a plate or platter.
- For an even easier appetizer, wrap some around breadsticks (grissini)!
- Use it to wrap chicken breasts before baking, or add it as a pizza topping once it’s out of the oven (especially with some arugula)!
- Wrap it around asparagus before roasting, then add a drizzle of balsamic glaze just before serving.
- It’s incredible on a sandwich with crusty bread, fresh mozzarella or Burrata cheese, and fresh basil leaves.
To showcase the best ways to pair prosciutto with different cheeses and wines, we’ve created an infographic that you can bookmark for your next soiree. Use it to quickly choose the perfect cheese while you’re shopping or as inspiration for flavor combinations you haven’t yet tried.
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