Honeyed Cantaloupe with Prosciutto and Blue Cheese

A classic Italian appetizer, fruit wrapped in prosciutto, with cantaloupe being one of the most favored of fruits used. Recipe by Chef James Campbell Caruso.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup honey
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 cups vegetable oil
8 thin slices prosciutto
2 ripe cantaloupes
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup (6 ounces) crumbled Virgin Pine Blue Cheese

Cooking Directions:

1. Warm the honey and the rosemary in a small saucepan on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside for 2 to 3 hours. Remove the rosemary sprigs.
2. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep skillet on medium-high heat. Fry the prosciutto until crisp, about 1 minute. Drain and cool on a paper towel-lined plate.
3. Peel the cantaloupes. Cut in half and scoop out the seeds. With a very sharp knife, slice both cantaloupes as thinly as possible.
4. To serve the cantaloupe, arrange 4 or 5 slices on each of eight plates. Drizzle with the olive oil; and season with the salt and pepper. For each plate, crush one piece of prosciutto in your hand and sprinkle over the cantaloupe slices. Top with the blue cheese. Drizzle with the rosemary honey.

Makes 8 servings.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.