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    The Heirloom Pantry » Recipes » Beef and Pork

    How to Make Crispy Prosciutto

    Published: Jul 20, 2022 · Modified: Dec 10, 2022 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain paid links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    Learn How to Make Crispy Prosciutto in just 10 minutes with one ingredient and a baking sheet! These simple prosciutto crisps add big flavor to salads, pasta, soups, sandwiches, and more.

    Hand holding a piece of oven-roasted crispy prosciutto.

    Crispy prosciutto is light and delicate and adds the perfect amount of crunch to your dish. Prosciutto is a rose-colored, delicate Italian specialty that is normally soft and pliable. Cooking it makes the paper-thin meat marbled with fat nice and crispy.

    Baking the prosciutto is the superior way to prepare crispy prosciutto. The oven evenly distributes and circulates the heat, allowing the prosciutto to cook evenly. This method maintains the prosciuttos thickness versus pan frying, creates even texture throughout each piece, and allows you to cook small and large batches easily.

    Eat it as a high-protein snack or top off your favorite pasta, like Cacio e Pepe with Burrata or Veggie Pesto Pasta with Zucchini and Asparagus. You'll want to put these easy prosciutto crisps on everything!

    Jump to:
    • About Crispy Prosciutto
    • What is prosciutto?
    • What are the different types of prosciutto?
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Substitutions
    • Instructions
    • What to Serve with Crispy Prosciutto
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Did You Like This Recipe?
    • 📖 Recipe

    About Crispy Prosciutto

    • Taste - Crispy prosciutto tastes rich, salty, and lightly sweet. It's more delicate than bacon and doesn't have a smoky flavor.
    • Texture - The prosciutto is perfectly crispy and a great accent for a pizza or creamy pasta.
    • Effort - These prosciutto chips are easy. Just bake the prosciutto, let it cool, then enjoy!
    • Time - It takes less than 15 minutes to bake the prosciutto then a few minutes for it to cool down (and get crispier).

    What is prosciutto?

    Prosciutto (pronounced "pro-shoo-tow") is dry cured Italian ham. It is made from high quality pork legs that are covered in salt and left to rest for a few weeks. They are then washed, hand seasoned, and dry aged for 1 to 3 years. Finally, the prosciutto is sliced and sold. It is traditionally served in thin slices and enjoyed with cheese and/or fruit.

    What are the different types of prosciutto?

    Prosciutto falls into 2 categories: Prosciutto cotto ("cooked ham”) or Prosciutto crudo ("raw ham"). Prosciutto cotto is slowly cooked and usually seasoned with herbs or spices. On the other hand, prosciutto crudo is never cooked and just lightly seasoned with salt. Prosciutto cotto has a light and herby flavor while prsociutto crudo has a purer prosciutto flavor.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make crispy prosciutto, including only prosciutto and parchment paper.
    • Prosciutto - We buy our prosciutto from Trader Joe's or other common grocery stores. If we are feeling fancy, we will get Prosciutto di Parma, a uniquely rich prosciutto.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Variations

    • Spicy - Sprinkle some freshly ground black pepper or red chili pepper flakes on the prosciutto slices to make them spicy.
    • Garlic powder - Garlic powder adds the classic and pungent aroma.
    • Herbs - Add juniper or rosemary for extra herbaceous flavor.

    Substitutions

    • Prosciutto cotto - We typically use prosciutto crudo for this recipe, but you can also use Prosciutto cotto for a slightly lighter and herbier prosciutto.

    Instructions

    Steps to make crispy prosciutto, including placing the prosciutto on a parchment paper-lined baking tray and baking it in the oven to make it crispy.

    In the Oven

    • Arrange prosciutto - Heat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay thinly sliced prosciutto flat with space between each piece. Make sure the slices are not touching each other and do not crowd the baking sheet or the prosciutto will not properly crisp. (Photo 1)
    • Cook prosciutto - Place on the middle rack of the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the prosciutto slices. Keep a close eye on the prosciutto once in the oven to make sure they do not burn. (Photo 2)
    • Cool prosciutto - Remove from the oven and transfer the prosciutto to a wire rack to cool. The prosciutto will become crispier as it cools. Then serve as a topping for salad and soup, add it to a cheese board, or enjoy it as a snack.

    Pro Tip: Figure out what you want to make with the prosciutto crisps ahead of time. That way you can prepare the other ingredients while the crisps are baking.

    What to Serve with Crispy Prosciutto

    We love these prosciutto crisps on pizza, pasta, a Peach Arugula Salad with Burrata, a Pear and Rocket Salad, or in a PLT (prosciutto, lettuce, tomato) sandwich. It is also delicious with a fruit like figs or on its own as a crunchy snack.

    Recipe FAQs

    Is prosciutto safe to eat raw?

    Yes! Since the prosciutto is covered in salt for a few weeks, the moisture is drawn out, which prevents bacteria in the meat.

    Can crispy prosciutto be made in the microwave?

    It can, but we don't advise it because the texture won't be as crispy as when it is oven baked.

    What is the difference between Prosciutto di Parma and other prosciutto?

    Prosciutto di Parma is made exclusively from pigs from the Parma region of Northern Italy. Parma's air and climate add a uniquely sweet and almost nutty flavor on the meat. Legitimate Parma ham will have the stamp of the Ducal Crown with the word "Parma" in the middle.

    When was prosciutto invented?

    The exact date is unknown, but started thousands of years ago In Italy when Italians would dry-age pork legs to extend their longevity. Over the past couple thousand years, the process has been perfected.

    What is the difference between pancetta and prosciutto?

    Pancetta comes from the pig's belly, while prosciutto comes from the leg. Prosciutto is salt cured for months, making it safe to eat raw, but pancetta needs to be cooked. Pancetta also has a richer and more robust flavor than prosciutto.

    Is prosciutto healthier than bacon?

    Yes, bacon has more saturated fat and more calories per serving. However, both prosciutto and bacon should be enjoyed in moderation.

    Crumbled crispy prosciutto on a salad.

    Equipment

    Crispy prosciutto calls for just a few common kitchen essentials, including a sheet pan or rimmed baking sheet, sheet parchment paper, and a cooling rack.

    Storage

    Refrigerate leftover crispy prosciutto in an air-tight container or wrap in foil for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it either hot or cold. To reheat, heat the oven to 350°F, remove the prosciutto from the refrigerator, and allow the prosciutto room temperature (about 5 minutes). Then place the prosciutto on a baking sheet and heat for 5 minutes.

    Top tips

    • Keep a close eye on the prosciutto while it bakes. It is so thin that it can burn easily.
    • Don't overcrowd the baking sheet or the prosciutto slices won't get crispy because there is too much moisture.

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    Did You Like This Recipe?

    Love these baked prosciutto crisps recipe? Please leave a 5-star ????? rating in the recipe card below & consider leaving a comment below. Thanks!

    📖 Recipe

    Hand holding a piece of oven-roasted crispy prosciutto.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    How to Make Crispy Prosciutto

    Learn How to Make Crispy Prosciutto in just 10 minutes with one ingredient and a baking sheet! These simple prosciutto crisps adds big flavor to salads, pasta, soups, sandwiches, and more. 
    Prep Time2 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time12 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Sides
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 118kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Equipment

    • 1 sheet pan
    • 1 parchment paper
    • 1 cooling rack

    Ingredients 

    • 4 oz prosciutto
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven - Heat oven to 375°F
    • Arrange prosciutto - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay prosciutto flat with space between each piece. Make sure the slices are not touching each other and do not crowd the baking sheet or the prosciutto will not properly crisp.
      4 oz prosciutto
    • Cook prosciutto - Place on the middle rack of the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the prosciutto slices. Keep a close eye on the prosciutto once in the oven to make sure they do not burn.
    • Cool prosciutto - Remove from the oven and transfer the prosciutto to a wire rack to cool. The prosciutto will become crispier as it cools. Serve as a topping for salad and soup, add it to a cheese board, or enjoy it as a snack.

    Notes

    Storage
    • Refrigerate leftover prosciutto in an air-tight container or wrap in foil for up to 2 days. You can then enjoy it either warm or cold. To reheat, heat the oven to 350°F and allow the prosciutto to reach room temperature (about 5 minutes). Then place the prosciutto on a baking sheet and heat for 2-3 minutes.
    Top Tips
    • Figure out what you want to make with the prosciutto crisps ahead of time. That way you can prepare the other ingredients while the crisps are baking.
    • Don't overcrowd the baking sheet or there will be too much moisture and the prosciutto slices won't get crispy.
    • Keep a close eye on the prosciutto while it bakes. It can burn easily.
    • Crispy prosciutto is best served as soon as it's made.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 188mg | Potassium: 56mg | Vitamin A: 10IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

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    Alec and Kat with Paisley and Peeps on the beach

    We're Kat and Alec, the culinary duo behind The Heirloom Pantry, where family recipes from our Italian and Japanese heritage meet fresh California ingredients and Hawaiian sunshine. Our chef-tested dishes help you conquer weeknights and wow guests with effortless entertaining. Join us on this delicious journey – let's cook up confidence, together!

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