Before we look at what are the best substitutes for Prosciutto, let’s first see what is Prosciutto? This is a sweet and salty Ham and is usually eaten raw.
There are two types of Prosciutto: Cotto and Crudo, these are salted and eaten raw but don’t worry because these are safe to eat even raw.
What is Prosciutto?
Prosciutto is a very savory dish and is suitable for a variety of dishes. So, if you crave this food (Prosciutto) but have a hard time finding it, is there a best substitute for Prosciutto?
Apparently, there is a substitute that you can try. There are several substitutes that we consider the best substitutes for Prosciutto, and you can taste and enjoy the flavors of Prosciutto in these foods.
Among the popular Prosciutto substitutes are Ham, Jamon Serrano, Bacon, Culatello, Pancetta, Beef Bresaola, Cheese and Salami and many more.
However, on this occasion, we are limited to only a few of the best Prosciutto substitutes. Some of the best options to replace Prosciutto are also very suitable for Muslims who don’t eat pork, including those of you who are starting to avoid pork.
Understanding more deeply about Prosciutto
Prosciutto (pro-SHOO-toh) is a salty Italian dish, or Italian Ham that is salty, sweet, and thinly sliced and eaten raw. In his home country (Italy), Prosciutto is known as Crudo.
This is very different from another ham that is served cooked, cooked ham is known as prosciutto cotto.
But you should know that Prosciutto is a sweet salty food with a high level of fat. On average, these foods contain about 3.5 grams of fat with 1 gram of which is saturated fat or bad cholesterol.
This is what you should pay attention to, saturated fat is a type of fat that is harmful to the heart and its benefit is to increase bad cholesterol levels. So, for those of you who have a history of heart disease, you should not really crave this savory food.
This is also one of the reasons why many of those who like prosciutto end up looking for the best substitute for prosciutto. If you are also among those who are starting to stay away from prosciutto or start limiting your intake of prosciutto, you can try other options.
We’ve prepared some of the best substitutes for prosciutto, and of course these are the healthier choices for you.
Ok, let’s just take a look at some of the best substitutes for prosciutto below.
11 Best Substitutes for Prosciutto
1. Jamon Serrano
This is Ham serrano and known as Spanish Ham. Spanish ham is a type of meat that has been cured and dark in color. It also has a deep taste like its color. Also, Jamón Serrano is one of the best substitutes for prosciutto.
Despite being one of the best substitutes for prosciutto, Jamón Serrano is not as salty as prosciutto. This is due to not using a lot of salt during the manufacturing process or preservation. The process sometimes takes up to a year.
The long preservation process in Jamón Serrano makes it have a distinctive taste and is not as salty as prosciutto, so it seems that it is tastier and healthier and safer for the heart than consuming prosciutto.
If in some dishes you use prosciutto, now you can replace it with Jamón Serrano. For dishes that are not too salty, you can just add Jamón Serrano without any additional ingredients. But it can also be served with several combination models such as a combination with vegetables, fruit, cheese, nuts, bread and fish.
2. Culatello
Culatello is also one of the best substitutes for prosciutto. Avoiding high-fat foods is a way of maintaining health, so instead of eating prosciutto you can use Culatello as the best substitute.
Culatello also comes from Italy, preserved meat too, but it is different from Jamon Serrano because Culatello is a type of meat that is directly taken from beef thigh muscles. This is a lean cut, and unlike prosciutto, which contains trans fat.
Unlike prociutto, Culatello is a type of pickled meat that is rich in flavor and is taken from straight thigh muscles. It only takes a little to add delicacy to your dish. Culatello is preserved with salt, garlic, pepper and using a special white wine.
It is delicious eaten with appetizers, or with fruits, such as watermelon and melon. Culatello is also the best food to replace prosciutto to be served with cheese, cream, and is also delicious added to pasta, sprinkled on pizza and various other dishes. The taste is tart and rich and makes the best substitute for prosciutto.
3. Ham
Ham is a substitute that is very close to prosciutto in terms of taste. That’s why, in Italy Ham is prosciutto. Unlike the case in various parts of the world, Ham can come with a variety of flavors.
The taste of Ham is distinctive and strong, tangy. When combined with other ingredients cheese.
There are many types of ham, including smoky ham, black forest ham, and sweet honey ham. All these forms of ham can be the best substitutes for prosciutto.
Between Ham and prosciutto there is a slight difference, where Ham is higher in aroma than prosciutto. Adding ham to a salad will give it a saltier taste.
4. Pancetta
Pancetta is Italian bacon, this is pork that is taken from the belly of the pork and then salted or preserved. The taste is a bit close to bacon but no smoke smell.
For those of you who don’t eat pork, then pancetta is not the best substitute for prosciutto. You can take any of the ones we have mentioned above.
The use of pancetta is also used in salads and it is sliced thinly. You can add this pork belly bacon to pizza, salads, or fillings.
This is only preserved food and cannot be eaten raw. This is different from prosciutto which has been preserved in salt, dried in air. So, pancetta must be cooked before eating.
If you want to use pancetta as the best substitute for prosciutto, you have to cook it first.
5. Bacon
The bacon is another alternative to prosciutto, this is meat that is smoked and preserved with salt and has a savory taste.
Bacon there are many types depending on the origin of the cut of meat. But as the best substitute for prosciutto, thinly sliced meat is best.
If you often eat high-fat prosciutto, then the taste of bacon is very similar to that. It is usually wrapped in fruit, and used as a dessert.
Bacon has many uses, its texture varies and is similar to prosciutto.
6. Salami
Salami is another pickled food that is used instead of prosciutto. There are many types of salami, such as those made from pork, poultry and beef. You can use salami from poultry or beef to avoid pork.
Salami from poultry or beef can be a great alternative to fat-rich prosciutto.
Salami is a dry meat similar to prosciutto, but there is a difference where salami has a bolder taste, it is tastier because it is made with fermented sausage.
There are many types of salami, including: Sweet, spicy, savory salami and it is one of the best substitutes for prosciutto.
7. Beef Bresaola
The best non-pork substitute for prosciutto is Beef Bresaola, you can use Beef Bresaola as a substitute for prosciutto.
For those of you who don’t eat pork for various reasons, then Beef Bresaola is the best alternative in replacing prosciutto.
This meat is dried for a duration of two months, including one dehydrated food in addition to many meals.
When ready, the meat will be dark red in color, sweet and slightly spicy. Beef Bresaola has a lighter taste when compared to prosciutto.
You can serve Beef Bresaola with a variety of food ingredients including: Olive oil, crackers, alongside cheese, arugula, and various other green vegetables. If you are a pizza seller, you can use Beef Bresaola in preparing the toppings.
8. Cheese
If you use prosciutto on breads and biscuits, then you can use cheese as the best substitute for prosciutto. But the cheese you use must be old, you can use Roman cheese, Swiss cheese or Asiago. They have a flavor that goes well with prosciutto in a variety of recipes.
Substituting prosciutto for cheese is great for appetizers. Try adding a slice of cheese on top of your biscuits or your bread, it will taste like prosciutto, and enjoy!
9. Duck Prosciutto
As the name suggests, this is duck meat that is preserved or dried by adding salt, or it can be said as marinated duck meat.
Duck Prosciutto is meat that is similar to preserved pork, it can be said that Duck Prosciutto is the best substitute for prosciutto in serving sandwiches or crackers.
The intense taste is suitable to be served with ingredients such as pickled raisins, candied cherries, and with fig chutney.
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10. Mushrooms
For vegans or vegetarians, mushrooms are the best substitute for prosciutto.
To make it similar to prosciutto, cook the mushrooms until they caramelize, then add them to any grilled dish that calls for prosciutto, this will enhance the flavor of your dish.
Then, which mushroom is the best to replace it. You can use Shiitake mushrooms, or Portobello mushrooms especially in baked goods recipes. This is because it has a texture similar to the texture of meat.
Add your Shiitake mushrooms in pizza, salads, as the best substitute for prosciutto. This will give a great taste to your food.
11. Toasted Nuts
Besides mushrooms, the best substitute for prosciutto for vegetarians and vegans is toasted nuts.
For this type of nuts, you can use almonds, or walnuts. When these beans are salted or roasted, they will have a unique taste and make a perfect substitute for prosciutto.
You can use it in risotto, pasta and pizza. Sprinkle baked beans on pizza to replace prosciutto.
Source: https://foodiesfamily.com/