Iberico ham vs prosciutto. What’s the difference?

Iberico ham vs prosciutto? Prosciutto vs Iberian ham? Oh goodness, don't make me choose! And what's the difference anyway? There is a certain competition that exists between the two and even worse: sometimes, we have to choose between them on a restaurant menu.

So, in order to help you understand a little bit more about these wonderful meats and why we choose one or another,  I’ll explain what the main differences between these two kinds of ham are.

Iberian ham:

Also known as Jamon Iberico, Iberico ham, or Serrano ham, this delicious ham is mainly produced in Spain. It’s not made from “normal” pigs but from Iberian pork. This ham is better (and a lot more expensive) than the ham coming from other pigs because they grow wild and not on farms. They eat acorns, their meat is less fatty. It can be taken from the hind leg or the thigh, though the thigh is more valued.

Italian prosciutto

In contrast, prosciutto can be dry-cured, usually thinly sliced, and served uncooked; this style is called prosciutto crudo in Italian and is distinguished from cooked ham, prosciutto cotto, a pig's or a wild boar's ham. This last one is more valued, coming from the same type of pork as the Iberian ham. It can also be from the hind leg or thigh.

The difference between Iberico ham vs prosciutto:

The difference, then is in the curing, as prosciutto is cured for a longer period and in the open air. Although there are many ways of doing it. Also, a pig's feeding is important for the final result; for example, in some regions of Italy they are fed with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese whey, it gives the meat a kind of walnut flavor.

In general, Spanish ham is more intense and prosciutto is lighter, but very tasty at the same time.

However, as I'm guessing you'd rather cook with the ham than raise pigs, I’ve got 3 easy prosciutto (or Iberico ham) recipes you can prepare in 5 minutes. These are perfect if you want to impress someone who may visit you and doesn’t have much time to cook!

Prosciutto & Jamon Iberico Recipes

Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp:

You only need to fry the shrimp, let it cool down, and then wrap it in a slice of prosciutto or serrano ham.

Prosciutto with mozzarella:

Buy those cute little mozzarella balls and put them on a dish of prosciutto or Iberian jamon. You can decorate the plate with some salad and add basil sauce to it.

Asparagus Wrapped in Crispy Prosciutto:

Cook some green asparagus, wrap it in prosciutto and dip it with the cheese you prefer. Put it in a preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Then add a splash of olive oil.

These are perfect if you want to impress someone who may visit you and doesn’t have much time to cook!

If you do have time to prepare, I love these 19 prosciutto recipes from Epicurious and these Iberico jamon recipes from BBC Food.

There is nothing I like better while traveling than a picnic from ingredients I have found at local “farmers” markets or small shops. I recommend checking out meat or deli stands or stores to purchase individual meal portions of Iberico ham vs prosciutto. Add some bread, cheese wine and you have a fabulous meal!

How about you? Do you prefer Iberian ham vs prosciutto? Have another recipe to share?

Both Italy and Spain are absolute gastronomic treats for foodies. In Italy, I eat like a queen in Florence. In Spain, it's Madrid, although I love Barcelona as well! Ham in sandwiches is one of my favorites and both Italy and Spain have many to choose from!

The francophile in me feels obligated to tell you that ham is also a part of the typical French breakfast!

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