These delicious Parma Ham canapés or Proscuitto di Parma stuzzichini, with sticky balsamic onions and Gorgonzola are delicious, easy to make and are ideal for serving up at a party. The only difficulty is not eating them all yourself!
Parma Ham Canapés
One of my favourite activities at a party is taking a tray of canapés around.
It gives me a chance to speak to everyone without getting stuck in one conversation, and I also get to tuck into the canapés without anybody really knowing how many I’m managing to snaffle for myself.
These Parma am canapés with sticky balsamic onion and Gorgonzola definitely get my vote. They’re easy to make, and extra delicious with the salty Gorgonzola, sweet sticky onions and rich savoury umami from the Parma Ham.
Ready-made canapé cases
The secret to these are the ready made canapés cases. The best ones to get are thin and crispy, and bite-sized. It saves a lot of hassle and means you can rustle up a batch at any time. If you are in the UK I recommend Rahms Mini Croustades which cost about £2.50 for a box of 24. Get a box or two and keep them in the cupboard to whip out and fill for impromptu party snacks.
The secrets to successfully caramelizing the onions can be found in our blog post, how to make caramelized onions, the main trick is to cook slowly over low heat – you cannot hurry them or make in less than 30 mins.
Aperitivo & Stuzzichini
In Italy aperitivo is a pre dinner drink – often a spritz made with Apérol or (less commonly) Cynar. If you have your aperitivo in a bar it will often be accompanied by little appetisers or stuzzichini.
How to make Parma Ham Canapés with Sticky Balsamic Onions and Gorgonzola (Proscuitto di Parma Stuzzichini)
Step 1 – Assemble the ingredients. I find that a moment spent doing this always saves time later.
Step 2 – Chop onions and the garlic, add salt and gently sweat in the olive oil over a very low heat for at least 20-30 minutes. If your stove is gas, then use a diffuser to cook as slowly as possible.
(Read more on making caramelized onions.)
Step 3 – Once the onion has reduced, then add the balsamic vinegar and carry on cooking for about five minutes.
Step 5 – Spoon the cooked onion into the canapé cases.
Step 7 – Add a cube of Gorgonzola to each case.
Step 8 – Bake at GM5 / 180C fan for about 5 mins until the cheese is melted.
Step 9 – Top with small pieces of ham and serve garnished with basil. To prepare the ham, cut each slice into nine – lengthwise and then across. Roll up each piece and place in a canapé case, garnish and serve immediately
Can I make these Parma Ham Canapés in advance?
Yes! You can prep everything in advance but leave assembly until the last minute or they will go soggy!
- Cook the onion beforehand and it will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
- Cut the cheese into cubes and keep covered in the fridge.
- Also cut and roll up the ham, and again, keep covered in the fridge.
- Place the basil leaves on a piece of damp kitchen paper in a plastic box; they’ll keep for a few hours.
When you want the canapés, place the onion and cheese in each case, and place in the oven as above until the cheese has melted. If the onion is fridge cold then allow another minute or two of cooking time. Then top with the Parma Ham as above, garnish and serve.
Why Buy Real Parma Ham?
Prosciutto di Parma, is produced protected by a Protected Designation of Origin status, ensuring that the real thing has been produced under strict guidelines using only pork, sea salt, air and time.
It’s been air cured for a minimum of 12 months and is without additives or preservatives. Each ham can be traced through all stages of production which ensures the quality and taste of the final product.
For another recipe with delicious Parma Ham (Proscuitto di Parma) try my Parma Ham Salad with Figs & Green Beans.
Parma Ham Canapés with Sticky Balsamic Onion and Gorgonzola (Proscuitto di Parma stuzzichini)
Ingredients
- 2 onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 tbs Balsamic Vinegar
- 24 Canape cases
- 50 g Gorgonzola ((or other soft blue Italian cheese))
- 4 slices Parma Ham
- basil to garnish
Instructions
- Peel and chop the onion and the garlic. Add to a frying pan with the olive oil and a pinch of salt and saute slowly over a low heat, stirring from time to time until starting to caramelise. This should take 20-30 minutes.
- Once the onion has cooked down, add the balsamic vinegar and cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Spoon the onion into the canapé cases. Cut the Gorgonzola into small cubes and pop one into each canapé case on top of the onion.
- Bake in the oven at 180C (Fan)/375 F/ Gas Mark 5 for 5 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Cut each slice of the Parma ham into nine - divive by three lengthwise, and then by three widthwise. Roll each piece of ham and place one in each canape case.
- Garnish with basil leaves and serve immediately.
Notes
To make in advance
- Cook the onion beforehand and it will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
- Cut the cheese into cubes and keep covered in the fridge.
- Also cut and roll up the ham, and again, keep covered in the fridge.
- Place the basil leaves on a piece of damp kitchen paper in a plastic box; they'll keep for a few hours.
- When ready to serve assemble as above, if the onion is fridge cold you may need to cook for another minute or two.
- This recipe is 1 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion
Post and recipe for Parma Ham Canapés with Sticky Balsamic Onions and Gorgonzola commissioned by Parma Ham. All opinions our own.
These canape cases can be used in sweet canapes as well as savoury. Try my Mini Fruit Tart Canapés with Creme Patissiere
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
These look like such delicious canapes! What a great way to use Parma Ham, they look like the perfect bite sized treat!
Helen
A bite size, perfect for snaffling.
Ellen
These delicious bites will be so perfect for holiday entertaining.
Helen
Ideal for The Holiday season.
Harriet
Yummy! These sound so tasty, a great party piece for impressing your guests.
Helen
And so easy to make.
Lisa Dodds
I love canapes like this, tasty little bites of deliciousness. A brilliant idea with some delicious ingredients.
Helen
We always appreciate a tasty canapé.
Babs
I didn’t know you could get ready made cases. They sound great. Love the idea of these canapes. They look very impressive.
Helen
The cases are so handy, and a great thing to have ready for any occasion.
Rach Gillian
You put my party food to shame! I never make things like this, I’m more for peanuts in a bowl and bread sticks. Terrible. Your canapes do look delicious, and I love parma ham.
Helen
So easy to make, and can be prepared in advance too.
Pamela
I love being able to make impressive little treats for a party, and these canapes look delightful. A great mix with the tasty Parma ham and the caramelized onions. Mouth watering. I’d be sneaking far too many myself!
Helen
Very tempting to sneak a few too many.
Amelia Jenkin
Gosh, making Parma Ham really is a committed process. That is amazing. Love these canapes, they look delicious and so easy to make.
Helen
Fascinating to find out how our food is prepared.
Felicity D
What a lovely idea and so easy to make. Just the kind of thing I’d love to have at a party.
Helen
Ideal for party season.
Gary H
These are a great alternative to the usual canapes I get served at any events. Simple, yet a perfect combination of delicious ingredients.
Helen
Very tasty and very easy to make.
Tasha
What a lovely idea. I find the ready made canapé cases so useful. Totally no fussing and so easy to create fancy little treats like these.
Helen
The cases are so good.
Hollie Jackson
A great idea for party food and very tasty with the delicious Parma ham.
Helen
The Parma ham is very tasty.
Demeter
Such a sophisticated appetizer to add to any party! I’m sure my guests are going to love it!
Helen
Impressive, yet so simple.
Nicole Tingwall
You truly cannot go wrong with parma ham! I would put it on everything. And adding gorgonzola?!? Can I come over?
Helen
Bring a bottle of Prosecco, I’ll handle the canapes!
Julia
I have tasted similar ready-made canape bases and loooved them so much! Using Parma ham makes them just taste even better!
Helen
The ready made bases are brilliant, so handy.