Melon and ham is easier to enjoy when each bite can be picked up without taking the platter apart. Here we use fruit pieces and loose folds of ham: two ingredients, no sauce and no hob.
4 appetizers · about 15 minutes · 500 g prepared melon and 80 g ham. Cut the fruit, drain visible liquid and assemble just before serving.
Ingredients and timing for 4 starters
Preparation and assembly: about 15 minutes. No cooking. Quantities make four appetizers, not four main courses.
Approximate timings for this editorial recipe proposal, which has not been kitchen-tested. Adjust cooking to your ingredients and equipment.
- 500 g melon flesh, without rind or seeds
- 80 g sliced dry-cured Spanish ham
Step-by-step method
- Wash your hands and prepare a clean board and knife. Rinse the melon exterior under running water before cutting, even though you will not eat the rind; scrub the firm surface with a clean produce brush and dry. Do not use soap on the fruit.
- Cut open the melon, remove rind and seeds and weigh 500 g flesh. Cut into pieces that are easy to eat with a fork.
- Drain visible liquid and arrange the fruit on a clean platter or four small plates. Cut the ham slices into manageable pieces.
- Drape the ham loosely over the melon without tightly wrapping each piece. Assemble just before serving. If preparing the fruit ahead, keep it refrigerated and keep the ham separate, following its pack instructions.
Jamones Paco Heredia for this article
Current selection from the related collection. Check format, weight and directions on each product page.
Jamones Paco Heredia
Current selection from the related collection. Check format, weight and directions on each product page.
View the collection →Adapt the recipe to your kitchen
Is the melon releasing lots of juice? Drain it before assembly and use a dry platter. The ham should not sit submerged in juice. Cut large pieces smaller rather than making guests use a knife.
Choose a melon with a texture you enjoy raw; whole-fruit size is not a substitute for weighing the flesh. No salt, oil or sweet reduction is needed for this version. For a larger table, assemble small plates in batches rather than leaving the entire dish out.
Fruit and vegetable hygiene: FDA guidance.
The selection follows the Jamones Paco Heredia catalogue. Editorial photographs illustrate formats; check the collection for current products and their details.
Short melon and ham skewers
Use the same quantities to assemble appetiser skewers. Divide melon into small pieces and fold ham loosely. Thread one or two fruit pieces and a ham fold onto each short skewer, leaving room to hold it. Divide between four people and check that each piece is comfortable to eat. Assemble at serving time; if cutting fruit ahead, keep refrigerated and separate from ham according to the packs’ instructions. Skewers change the presentation without requiring extra ham.
Choose your ham and plan your purchase
You need 80 g of ham for the four suggested portions. Compare 80 g sliced ham packs and check that the listing is for ham if following these ingredients. The carousel may also include shoulder.
Cebo Iberian ham and 100% Iberian bellota ham are different categories; the recipe does not require the most expensive one. Check the specific product's ingredients and storage instructions. For other formats, explore ham to buy.