A complete guide to Parma Ham | lovefood.com

Prosciutto di Parma, which translates from Italian as Parma Ham, is one of the finest hams in the world. When thinly sliced – which is how it's ... Recipes HowTo Reviews Chefs News Inspiration SignIn WhatisParmaHam? ParmaHamproduction Healthbenefits Buying Storing ParmaHamrecipes ParmaHam AcompleteguidetoParmaHam Everypaper-thin,melt-in-the-mouthsliceofsweet,savouryandsaltyProsciuttodiParma,orParmaHam,istheresultoftraditional,artisantechniquesthathavechangedlittleovertheyears.Findouthowit’smade,plustipsforservingandcookingwiththisincrediblyversatileingredient. WhatisParmaHam? ProsciuttodiParma,whichtranslatesfromItalianasParmaHam,isoneofthefinesthamsintheworld.Whenthinlysliced–whichishowit’smostcommonlyboughtandserved–thedry-curedhamischaracterisedbyitswarmpinkcolourandsliverofcreamyfatrunningdownoneside.Themeatissilkyandmelt-in-the-mouth,andtheflavourisunbeatable:deliciouslysavourywithhintsofsweetnessandsalt.  ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma WhenbuyingParmaHam,you’realwaysguaranteedapremiumandartisanproduct.It’saProtectedDesignationofOrigin(PDO)foodwhichmeansit’sentirelyproducedinacertainplacethatgivesituniqueproperties.Inthiscase,theclueisinthename:Parma.Morespecifically,inthehillssurroundingthetownofParmaintheEmiliaRomagnaregionofNorthernItaly. Infact,air-curedhamhasbeenmadeinthisareasinceatleast100BC.CatotheCensorrecordedthepreservationofpiglegsthroughaprocessofsalting,drying,andgreasingwithalittleoil.It’sverysimilartotheprocesstodaywhichisoverseenbytheConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma.TheConsorziocheckseverysingleParmaHamandensurestheproductionandfinalresultareuptostandardbeforebeingbrandedwiththecertificationtrademark,theDucalCrown. ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma ProsciuttodiParmausuallyhasadelicatearomaandflavoursoit’sdelightfulonitsownwithaglassofsparklingwineoraspartofanantipastiselection.Dependingonwhatyou’reafter,hamsagedbeyondtheminimumofayearwillalsotakeonamorecomplexandconcentratedprofile. READMORE:5thingsyoudidn'tknowyoucoulddowithParmaHam Butit’salsoanincrediblyversatileingredienttocookwith,perfectforbreakfast,lunchanddinnerdishes.Drapeoverfriedeggs,stuffinadecadenttoastieormixintocreamypasta.It’sparticularlygreatinheartyorcelebratorydishes:bakeintopalmiersandserveascanapésorsprinklebakedandcrumbledParmaHamoverroastedsprouts. HowisParmaHammade? ProsciuttodiParmahastobemadeinacertainwaytoreceivetheofficialstampofapprovalfromtheConsortium.Butthisdoesn’tmeanthateverylegofhamtastesthesame–ofcourse,everypigfromwhichthemeatcomesisuniqueandwilladditsownverysubtleflavourprofile.Plusthelongerit’saged,themorecomplextheflavour. ThereareonlyfouringredientsthatgointomakingParmaHam:Italianpork,air,saltandtime.Buttheproperprocessusingartisantechniquesisapainstakingone.  ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma ThepigsusedareLargeWhite,LandraceandDuroc – eitherpurebredorabreedthat'sregisteredintheItalianHerdBook. ParmaHamproducersreceivefreshlegs(therearhaunchesofthepig),whichweighanaverageof15kg(33lbs),fromauthorisedabattoirs.Thensaltisaddedintothemix.Thesaltmaster,ormaestrosalatore,saltsthemeatwhichisthenrefrigeratedforaweek.It’sgivenathinsecondlayerofsaltwhichisabsorbedover15to18days. READMORE: AcompleteguidetoParmesan Thencomesairandtime.Thelegsarehunginhumidity-controlledroomsfor60to90days,thenwashedofexcesssaltorimpurities.Afterafewdaysindryingrooms,they’rehungonframesinwell-ventilatedrooms.Thenextthreemonthsarecriticaltothedevelopmentoftheham’suniqueflavour.Attheendofthisperiod,they’recoveredinamixoflardandsalttopreventtheexternallayersofthehamfromdryingout. ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma Forthefinalstageofcuring,thelegsofhamarehungincellar-likeroomswithlessairandlight.Thetotalageingperiodmustlast,bylaw,foraminimumofayear.Butthislabour-intensiveprocessisstillnotover.Eachlegofhamischeckedforqualitybyinsertinganeedleintofivepointsofthehamandsmellingfortherightmaturity.Ifitpassesmuster,thehamisbrandedwiththefive-pointDucalCrownwhichalsoshowstheproducer’sidentificationcodeallowingforfulltraceability.  ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma IsParmaHamhealthy? ParmaHamishighinproteinandfreeaminoacids,givingitahighoveralldigestibility.It’salsoveryrichinoleicacid,ahealthymonosaturatedomega-9fattyacid.SliversofParmaHamcontainmanyvitaminsandminerals:namelyB1,B6,B12andPP(alsoknownasNiacinandaformofB3)plusphosphorus,zinc,ironandselenium. It’salsonotablewhatParmaHamdoesn’tcontain.AccordingtotheConsortium’sstrictregulations,colouringagentsorpreservativessuchasnitritesandnitratesaren’tallowedinproduction.  READMORE: Acompleteguidetojamónibérico HowtobuyParmaHam WhenbuyingProsciuttodiParma,lookfortheDucalCrownstamponthepackagingtoensureyou’regettingtherealdeal.  ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma You’llmostlikelybuythehamready-slicedinpacketsfromthesupermarket.Orsupportyourlocaldeliwhomayhavebonelessjointsandslicetoorder. Generally,packsofpre-slicedParmaHamfromsupermarketswouldhavebeenagedfor18-20 monthsbutyoumaybeabletofindhamagedforlonger,around30-32months,inspecialistdelis. HowtostoreParmaHam Alwaysstorepre-slicedpackagesintherefrigeratorandonceopened,re-wrapanythingunusedwelltopreventitdryingoutandconsumewithinthreedays.Andonehugelyimportantthing:removefromthefridgeabout15minutesbeforeservingsoitcomesuptoroomtemperature.Toocoldandallthose delicateflavourswon’tcomethroughaswell. READMORE: AcompleteguidetoComté ParmaHamrecipes Ifyou’relookingforaneasy,chicsnack,youcan’tgowrongwithenjoyingafewsliversofParmaHambyitself.Itpairsbeautifullywithaglassofsparklingorfruitywhitewine.Orserveaspartofanantipastiboardwithbreadandfreshfruitsuchasmelonorfigs–theeasiestwaytoaddaspecialtouchtoeveningdrinks,especiallyifhostingadinnerparty whenthere’softenlotselsegoingoninthekitchen. ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma ProsciuttodiParma’sdelicatesweet-savoury-saltyflavouralsocomplementsotheringredientsandbringsauniqueprofiletodishes.ParmaHam’sversatilitymeansitcanbeenjoyedatanytimeoftheday. Atbreakfastorbrunch,it’stheperfectaccompanimentforeggs.Orhowaboutstuffedintoanoozy,cheesyploughman’s-inspiredtoastie? READMORE:Acompleteguidetofennel ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma Beforedinner,incorporateintocanapésorstartersincroquettes,moreishpastrypalmiers,tastysausagerollsandskeweredwithmanchegoandsweetbutternutsquash. Inneedoftheperfectspringtimedish?Looknofurtherthanthispea,ParmaHamandfetaquiche –idealforpicnics.Orhowaboutalightpastadishwithbroccoliandspinach?A deliciouswaytoreachyourfiveaday.CrispybitsofProsciuttodiParmaarealsoagreatwaytoaddatwistoncrowd-pleasingpotatosalad. TimAtkins/ProsciuttodiParma Forsomethingmorehearty,mixslicesofParmaHamintoacreamypastabake.Wealsolovethesalty,meatyaccentthatProsciuttodiParmacrumbsbringtothisBrusselssproutsrecipe,perfectforthefestiveseasonandbeyond. ImagecourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma Leadimage:CourtesyofConsorziodelProsciuttodiParma Bethefirsttocomment Newest Oldest ViewAll({{vm.comments.length}}) Doyouwanttocommentonthisarticle? Youneedtobesignedinforthisfeature Copyright©lovefood.comAllrightsreserved. Termsofuse| Privacypolicy| Disclaimer