Sweet ripe cantaloupe effortlessly wrapped in a thin slice of salty prosciutto is a classic first course throughout all of Italy.  Prosciutto e melone is a perfect blend of something sweet, something salty and something very satisfying.  For a light lunch, serve wedges of prosciutto-wrapped melon over greens along with a wedge of cheese, some tangy balsamic vinegar and some bread. For an appetizer or small bite, cut the cantaloupe into wedges and then wrap it in the prosciutto; for a unique and quite tasty pasta idea, toss al dente penne or bowtie pasta with melon rounds, some fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese, some watercress, olive oil and some crisped up pieces of the prosciutto.

Tagged: cantaloupe, first course, Italian, Italy, melon, prosciutto, prosciutto e melone, prosciutto-wrapped melon, watercress