For Your Next Party, Swap The Chips With Prosciutto

Crispiness, fattiness, and saltiness are all the markers of a delicious bite. Though plain ol' potato chips easily fill all that criteria, why not introduce a bit of luxury and swap potatoes for prosciutto? That's right, we're suggesting you elevate your dinner party menu and impress guests by making none other than crispy, prosciutto chips.

From the Italian word meaning ham, Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma describes that the highest quality prosciutto (crudo, not cotto) is dry-cured, aged meat that's exclusively made from the hind legs of pigs, along with sea salt, fresh Parma air, and a bit of time. Slightly salty with a mildly sweet flavor and nutty nuances, fresh prosciutto has a silky texture that seems to melt in the mouth. Yet, however pleasing this buttery quality may be, crispify-ing prosciutto amps up its complexity to entirely new levels.

Crunchy foods just taste better but don't take our word for it. Despite the fact that our sense of smell and taste make up for most of our flavor perception, texture and sound also affect how we perceive taste. In fact, Well + Good shares that a food's crunch factor actually has the power to elevate the dining experience by enhancing the perception of flavor and even well-being. Sure to be a crowd-pleaser, whipping up a batch of crispy, cured ham is the perfect way to satisfy a hankering for crunchiness in an ultra-fancy way.

An effortless single-ingredient recipe, Forbes explains that these alternative chips can be made by laying slices of cured meat flat on a parchment-lined sheet pan and baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes. Initially, the chips may not appear super crispy after taking them out of the oven, but, as they cool, they'll become increasingly crunchy.

While this recipe works for prosciutto, other cured meats like salami, coppa, or pepperoni also fare well. Additionally, you can also get creative and experiment with herbs and spices, sprinkling chili flakes, garlic powder, or even fresh rosemary over the slices, suggests The Heirloom Pantry. Just steer clear of adding extra salt as Healthline shares that a two-ounce portion of prosciutto already contains a whopping 46% of the daily recommended value of sodium.

Rich and salty with a more refined profile, prosciutto chips maintain their sweet nuttiness. Distinctly different from smokier bacon, the chips can be served in all sorts of ways. Add texture to creamy dishes like soups and purées, crumble them over salads, or add textural variety to a sandwich or pasta dish. You can also just snack on them as you would a regular potato chip, pairing the umami-laced chips with an off-dry Chenin Blanc to balance saltiness or a bubbly Lambrusco to cut through the ham's richness, advises Wine Enthusiast.