‘Whats for dinner honey?’

As the holiday’s are upon us, I thought I would share this appetizer that works well for a dinner party. After feasting on heavy meals during the Christmas days, it may be nice to have something fresh in between. This would make a lovely New Years starter or just if you’re having friends over for a glass of champagne. Simple but significant. We received a special delivery from my family (who were just in Spain), a Jamón ibérico (aka pata negra) that tastes so delicious. The flavour immediately  takes me back to the Spanish tapas bars, where the food simply speaks for itself.  Jamón ibérico is made from black Iberian pigs that live off acorns giving the meat that special nutty aftertaste.

My version of jamon & melon is a bit of a twist from the traditional one, but nevertheless you can make it look your own. I sliced some cantaloupe melon on top of each other and added thin slices of the jamon in between. I added some radish, almonds and spring onions. I’ve also made a horseradish/mascarpone paste to the dish. For the paste you simply mix, sour cream, mascarpone, grated horseradish, and a pinch of sugar, salt and black pepper. You can also add a bit of lemon zest. In the end I’ve drizzled a bit of olive oil, black pepper and drops of thick fig balsamic vinegar.

Bon Appétit!