23 July 2008
what’s cooking wednesday: prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
While looking for something different to do with watermelon for this week’s What’s Cooking Wednesday (go visit all the participants at Shan’s!), I came across the National Watermelon Promotion Board. What? You doubted that one existed?
Well it so happens that our friends at the NWPB have quite a collection of watermelon recipes. Who knew? I picked this one because I *love* prosciutto crudo and melon, but I changed the recommended Brie to a more Italian-friendly cheese, one of my favorites: Bel Paese.
I’m sure Brie is fabulous in this though, so if you can get it, do try it and let me know what you think, OK? And if you can’t get Brie or Bel Paese, just use something soft and mild in its place. Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments!
I’m not putting measurements in the recipe since you can make as many or few of these little finger sandwiches as you like. Me? I lean toward many.
I will recommend, though, chilling the watermelon and the cheese before assembling so that everything retains its proper consistency.
Prosciutto Wrapped Watermelon with Bel Paese Cheese
- Finger-food sized pieces of watermelon cut into rectangles
- Thin slices of Bel Paese about the same size as the watermelon pieces
- Prosciutto crudo
1. Place a slice of Bel Paese on top of each piece of watermelon.
2. Wrap each with a sliced of prosciutto crudo. Secure with a toothpick.
3. Serve immediately and enjoy immensely like I did!
Buon appetito!
- P.S. If you’d be so kind, can you tell me which photo you like most?
- Grazie mille!
- And also, what is your favorite way to enjoy watermelon?
- Do you have a special recipe to share?
Related posts:
- what’s cooking wednesday: tomato & red onion salad
- what’s cooking wednesday:
top 5 summer recipes - recipes
- what’s cooking wednesday: tortellini con prosciutto e panna
- what’s cooking wednesday: pepper steak over white rice
39 beans of wisdom »
Rebecca on 23 Jul 2008 at 7:08 am #
Now that is just “good”
I have eaten a lot of those little rolls in my time
and they are good good good!
A wonderful treat in the summer heat
Rebecca’s last blog post..Summer Glory
Absolutely perfect for summer lunches when there will be *no* cooking, Rebecca. Nice to see you
Joanne at frutto della passione on 23 Jul 2008 at 10:07 am #
I like photos 2 and 3. Sorry I can’t be more specific. This looks like a great patio treat, perfect appetizers for a bbq with friends.
Joanne at frutto della passione’s last blog post..Fagioli in umido (braised Beans) and le pan’ont
Thanks Joanne, and yes a perfect party plate
casalba on 23 Jul 2008 at 10:08 am #
I’ve never eaten them before. They look (and sound) absolutely delicious. A lovely twist on the usual version.
P.S. My favourite photos are the second and third - can’t choose between them.
casalba’s last blog post..The Fig Tree
Thanks for your input! I was pretty psyched to see prosciutto with yet another favorite fruit of mine as well
Gil on 23 Jul 2008 at 11:00 am #
Must really be good with the delicious seeded watermelon that is available in Italy. Around here most of the watermelon is the tasteless but “seedless” variety.
The one watermelon I had that wasn’t very good this year was nearly seedless. I don’t think it was seedless intentionally, but it didn’t have a lot going on inside in seeds or flavor
The rest, though, have been *spectacular*!
Miss Expatria on 23 Jul 2008 at 11:46 am #
the second to the last one is the foodie pic you’re looking for!
i am so curious to try this. i can’t imagine how it would taste (i put watermelon in an entirely different class than cantaloupe or honeydew). now the question is, how do i try this without buying an ENTIRE watermelon???
Miss Expatria’s last blog post..Roma Life
My best advice is to go to a smallish grocery store, preferably with a youngish boy working behind the counter, and ask if it’s pretty please possible to get a half or even a quarter of a watermelon pretty please because you’re all by yourself and the rest will just go to waste pretty please. Bat eyelashes early and often.
This is just a hypothesis of course.
Thanks for your photo opinion
running42k on 23 Jul 2008 at 12:33 pm #
prosciutto is a wonder meat. It makes everything better.
As for photos, I’m partial to the first one.
running42k’s last blog post..Seinfeld
*So* true about prosciutto! Hooray for the pig!
And thanks for the input on the photos. Just when I thought one of them was pulling ahead
milanesemasala on 23 Jul 2008 at 1:20 pm #
I love eating watermelon just on their own. But I’m intrigued by the prosciutto/cheese combination.
In the Milan-area they have kiosks called Anguriere where they sell sliced watermelon and you can
sit and eat them on the spot.
Btw, I like picture number 3.
milanesemasala’s last blog post..The Battle of the Sagre
Yes I’m kind of partial to watermelon all by its lonesome myself…my next experiment will be a watermelon salad though. I’m thinking some mozzarella, basil or ooh, I wish I had some mint….
Absolute Vanilla... (& Atyllah) on 23 Jul 2008 at 1:21 pm #
Looks delicious - not that I’ve even been a fan of watermelon!
And I think the first pic looks the best!
Absolute Vanilla… (& Atyllah)’s last blog post..This that and not much of the other
Not a fan of watermelon?! Send the unwanted fruit my way please
And thanks for your opinion on the photo
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 23 Jul 2008 at 1:44 pm #
I vote for number two. I like the sea/sky in the background. Very beautiful.
nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Rome off the Tourist Track – Testaccio Farmers Market
I rather enjoy the colors in that one myself
Thanks!
My Mélange on 23 Jul 2008 at 1:48 pm #
Oh. Yes. Please. Must. Have. Many.
I love this combo. And for me the Brie is not only easy to find…it is one of my favs
My Mélange’s last blog post..Travel Tip Tuesday- Free Paris Museums
I hope you try this with Brie and let me know! It’s not too hard for me to find either, so I’ll try to get some before the late summer takes my watermelons away
bella on 23 Jul 2008 at 2:11 pm #
This looks so refreshingly delicious!! I’ve seen proscuitto wrapped honeydew melon, but never watermelon. Definitely on my must try list for this summer.
If you like prosciutto and melon, I think you’ll like this too. A little different texture, and if you add the cheese, a nice creamy flavor too
jen of a2eatwrite on 23 Jul 2008 at 2:43 pm #
Michelle, this absolutely has my mouth watering! I adore Bel Paese, and anything that includes any type of melon and any type of proscuitto gets my vote. YUM.
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Blueberry Buckle Cake
I love my Bel Paese too…*so* good
paul of crazy like whoa on 23 Jul 2008 at 3:12 pm #
I’m with the ragazza… the one “overlooking the Ionian sea” is the best.
Sweet/creamy/salty: this app has it all! Whenever I try your simple salads and appetizers, I get rave reviews. Thank you for enhancing my smoothness factor! What a blog…
paul of crazy like whoa’s last blog post..The passionate journey
Thanks for your two centissimi
And thanks, also, for giving me a new tagline. I’m thinking something like “Enhancing smoothness factors since 2006.” Che ne pensi?
Andrea on 23 Jul 2008 at 3:28 pm #
I can’t decide between 2 and 3. I like that in both of them you can distinctly see all the layers and ingredients.
Andrea’s last blog post..Bridal Show Tips
Excellent Andrea; grazie
Stefanie on 23 Jul 2008 at 3:50 pm #
That sounds weird but tasty. And I like the first picture best!
Stefanie’s last blog post..Requisite “How was your weekend?” post
Trust me: definitely tasty
And thanks for your vote!
LuLu on 23 Jul 2008 at 4:05 pm #
I would have never thought to roll all three of those ingredients into one….sure I would probably have them all on a plate as an antipasto but combining them like that isn’t just interesting but also looks really delicious.
As for pictures go….I like #3.
LuLu’s last blog post..Gelato vs. Ice Cream
Thanks LuLu! Hope you try it out
annoa2 on 23 Jul 2008 at 4:23 pm #
oh boy, this looks good! really, really good! mmmm…..
annoa2’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Plum Tart
Mangia, mangia!
Mary on 23 Jul 2008 at 4:25 pm #
I love watermelon and prosciutto, so I’m going to have to try this. And of course, the cheese is an extra bonus. Right now we’re enjoying our prosciutto with figs since we’ve got a bumper crop this year (and no one stole them, yippee!).
As for my photo choice, I’m tied between the first and third. I like the close-up, but I also like seeing the grapes well in the first photo.
Thanks Mary
And woohoo on the figs! I’m jealous!
janie on 23 Jul 2008 at 4:39 pm #
All the photos are great (making me jealous since I can barely take one!) but I like the second one best. Now I have to go out and buy some prosciutto!
Yes yes time for some prosciutto! And thanks for sharing your photo choice
jody on 23 Jul 2008 at 4:42 pm #
YUM!! That looks fantastic.
The kids and I recently made some Watermelon pops. We blended the melon with some sugar, put it in molds and froze them. The kids loved them, and they were so easy to make. We even left the seeds in!
Ooh fun! And so refreshing! Great idea
Frances on 23 Jul 2008 at 6:25 pm #
When I was pregnant I ate two things constantly - gyros and watermelon.
And I was pregnant mostly in winter, so finding watermelon was a chore.
I always have my proscuitto with honeydew or cantaloupe - where is my head at?
Look delish!
Frances’s last blog post..yes folks, yet another blog…
Well you are having it the traditional way…try this! I think you’ll enjoy
Eryn on 23 Jul 2008 at 6:44 pm #
I had no idea that “Bel Paese” was a type of cheese….I was under the impression that it was just an expression used to describe Italia!…..now i know
Anyway, I tried melone con proscuitto in Florence this past April and was so surprised by how much saltier the combo of cantaloupe made everything……it sure was delicious.
my brother’s girlfriend makes watermelon juice by blending just watermelon, lemon juice, lime juice, and a little bit of honey. then she strains it and serves over ice. it’s amazing and so refreshing. (delicious when ice cold)
see a recent blog post about a fav Israeli watermelon recipe below:
http://erynchandler.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/just-say-no-to-pithy-oranges-blog-challenge-2008-day-3/
Eryn’s last blog post..new find…
Ooh thanks for the new ideas Eryn; they will be put to good use
Sara on 23 Jul 2008 at 6:57 pm #
I love the photo with the sea in the background, and the sun shining on the food. Lovely!
Looks so tasty too!
Thanks Sara
Janet on 23 Jul 2008 at 7:12 pm #
It’s a toss up for me between the third and the fourth! It sounds delicious, tho!
Janet’s last blog post..What Is It Wednesday #121
Thanks Janet! Always lovely to see you here
somepinkflowers on 23 Jul 2008 at 10:10 pm #
photo #3
looks the best,
like it looks closer to my mouth…
you advice about batting eyelashes
gets me 1/2 watermelon every time
but i usually go to the older grandfatherly~man and ask him
because
i think he get fewer eyelash batting sessions
than the younger boy…
my favorite watermelon recipe:
——->take a chilled one to the beach
and eat the entire thing
WITH ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON
and then you both jump into the sea to clean up.
but that is just me…..
somepinkflowers’s last blog post..tourist tuesday and which museum is this
Oh you’re right; I actually probably should’ve said a gentleman behind the counter (age doesn’t matter) because, well, most enjoy the eyelashes anyway
Lovely watermelon recipe. I’ll definitely try it before the summer’s out
Wanderlust Scarlett on 23 Jul 2008 at 10:18 pm #
YUM. I always leave hungry when I come here on Wednesdays.
Sniff.
Looks SO good…
;o)
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Wanderlust Scarlett’s last blog post..Submarine Races
This one’s so easy, cara…you have no excuse!
Diane Tapscott on 23 Jul 2008 at 11:05 pm #
I pop in to your blog regularly but I must be honest it has really changed. Very nice but not quite like before - please don’t be offended but now it appears as if I am reading from one of my magazines from across the Atlantic - sorry but I would love it if you went back to the original blogger.
Hi Diane, I’m not offended, but it would help if you could be more specific. Do you mean Blogger the service or me, the blogger? If the latter, what in particular do you find missing?
Although honestly, if it feels like you’re reading a magazine, I’m actually flattered
Seriously though, feel free to email me your thoughts; I’d love to hear them! I can’t promise anything will greatly change as what I write here is what I feel inclined to write about (although I have ads, the real point to keeping a blog for me is to enjoy it and not have it feel like work), but of course suggestions are always welcome. Please email me
Chel on 24 Jul 2008 at 1:06 am #
That looks sooo yummy. I swear, I never think of making anything with watermelon. We just cut the darned thing, salt it and eat it n the porch with sticky juice running down our arms. We’re messy and simple, apparently.
Chel’s last blog post..Ask me…
I have to say, Chel, that I absolutely *abhor* juice/water/liquid running down my arms. There is nothing more annoying to me. Funny you should mention it, though, b/c my mom and I talked about this very thing while she was here. Apparently I inherited this quality from her
Leslie on 24 Jul 2008 at 1:30 am #
I am so jealous. I spent last summer in Italy and fell head over heels for Bel Paese. I can’t find it consistently here, though. Sad. One grocery store carried it once for about a week, then didn’t reorder. Here’s hoping they reorder eventually.
Oh that is truly sad Leslie. You might want to mention something to them so they know you’re looking for it; maybe others are asking too? Never know!
Ice Tea For Me on 24 Jul 2008 at 1:47 am #
This sounds yummy and easy for a summer appetizer. Will definately try this. I doubt I can find Bel Paese cheese but I’m a huge fan of brie. At one of my favorite eateries, Wild Flower Bread Co., they have a grilled Ham & Brie w/caramelized onions. It is sooo good.
I like the 1st & 4th photos.
Ice Tea For Me’s last blog post..ole’
Ooh, that grilled ham and Brie sounds fab! Want!
Geggie on 24 Jul 2008 at 4:13 am #
Here’s another great watermelon recipe:
chunks of watermelon
kalamata olives
red onion
lime juice
olive oil
crumbled feta, but you could use ricotta salata, too!
Geggie’s last blog post..Scene at the Rental Car Counter
Why I think you just gave me lunch today, Geggie. Thanks
Karina on 24 Jul 2008 at 4:14 am #
OH YUM…this is something I will Definitely be trying in the future! As in…this weekend!
My favorite photo is the second one, with the sky in the background. it adds a really cool element to it. I also like the close-up of the “one” piece.
Karina’s last blog post..Where In The World is Candid Karina?
Thanks Karina, and I hope you enjoy these
Marie on 24 Jul 2008 at 5:10 am #
I would love to munch on a few of these! especially on a hot day, great for a picnic or party!
Marie’s last blog post..BURRATA!
And I’ll take some of that Burrata…YUM!
Under an Olive Tree on 24 Jul 2008 at 5:25 am #
I vote for the third picture, although the second is very very nice too!
I was going to rave about watermelon juice but I see someone already mentioned it. It’s deliciously refreshing…and uses up a lot of watermelon quickly (in case batting the eyelashes doesn’t work in getting you just a piece of one).
The seeded watermelons have been delicious this year…I’m attempting to eat one all by myself.
Will try this today, perhaps with fontina since that’s all I have in the house.
I always think of watermelon as something to eat at the end of the meal…now I will have it at the beginning too!
Thanks for the new idea.
Under an Olive Tree’s last blog post..I was the canary in the coal mine!
Mmm…fontina! Love it. This is really a great appetizer, Diane…in fact I’ve been known to eat so much of it, there wasn’t room for even the primo piatto
JR on 24 Jul 2008 at 10:44 am #
to bad the ingredients arent readily available out here… dam makes me miss living in san francisco and having the market on the pier…
JR’s last blog post..FLICKR Game
I know how you feel JR; all the blueberry recipes posted around the Interwebs now are killing me!
anne on 24 Jul 2008 at 10:00 pm #
I like the last picture the best….I might give this a try!!
anne’s last blog post..New Experience…
I hope you enjoy it Anne
Kevin on 25 Jul 2008 at 4:11 am #
What a great combo! Salty prosciutto and cheese with juicy watermelon.
Kevin’s last blog post..Zucchini Bread with Roasted Red Peppers and Feta
A new favorite for me Kevin
Thanks for coming by!
Jessica, Italy Logue on 25 Jul 2008 at 5:57 pm #
I like the top photo best. And I’m hungry now.
Jessica, Italy Logue’s last blog post..Hostels in Venice
Thanks Jessica…mangia mangia!
campodifragole on 29 Jul 2008 at 10:42 am #
Really good!! Never tried to use watermelon together with prosciutto, I’ve always had it with yellow melon.
In my blog I posted two recipes with watermelon:
Yoghurt pannacotta with watermelon jam
and Gello di Mellone, a typical Sicilian summer dessert
Baci,
Daniela
campodifragole’s last blog post..Pannacotta di yogurt con confettura di anguria
YUM! Love anything with watermelon and I have some in the fridge that is just waiting to be used. Grazie and thanks for visiting