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You are here: Home / Cooking Times / a) 30 mins or less / Rocket Salad with Parma Ham, Papaya, Parmesan and Pecan Nuts

Rocket Salad with Parma Ham, Papaya, Parmesan and Pecan Nuts

4th September 2017 - By Michelle Minnaar
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Now this little gem of a salad is perfect for catching those last rays of sun, and prolonging the summer. As many people do, I enjoy the change of the seasons. However, there is still something melancholic of seeing summer come to an end. To hold the image of summer in place just a little bit longer, you can serve this salad for your family. Even if it’s too cold to have dinner on the terrace, it still looks like sunshine on a plate.

Ham Rocket Paparaya Parmesan

About this salad

How can you resist that vibrant orange colour of the papaya against the deep green of the rocket salad? Simply beautiful with the parma ham, one of the best combinations! Whether you serve this dish for guest or just the family on a weeknight. Of course, once again, it’s a simple recipe, quick and easy to prepare. Most importantly, you can shop for this recipe in most supermarkets nowadays.

Papaya Fruit

Nowadays you can get papaya at most large supermarkets’ exotic fruit sections. The papaya is ripe and ready when it feels soft. Much in the same way that an avocado feels when it is just ripe. When preparing your papaya, you can treat it a little bit like a melon. Peel the fruit whole, then cut it in half and scoop out the plentiful seeds with a spoon. The seeds are edible too, but the taste is quite bitter, so they head for the bin. After that, you can cut up the fruit.

Papaya is a super food with a whole range of beneficial qualities, such as strengthening the immune system, preventing heart diseases, arthritis, and even cancer. All the more reason to make this amazing fruit as part of your daily diet.

Papayas Two Whole

Parma Ham

Parma ham comes from the province of Parma in central northern Italy. The history of the Parma ham dates back centuries. Traditional preparation means salting the ham and letting it rest for about two months. Next, the ham is cleaned for salt and left hanging to dry. The maturing process can take up to 18 months, for the unique taste to develop to its full potential. Please look at some of my other recipes featuring delicious Parma ham also to find out more detailed information on the subject.

Delicious snack #1: Parma ham and mozzarella bites
Delicious dessert #2: Parma ham melon salad

Different ideas for Parma Ham

Who would have thought that Parma ham is so versatile? In its fresh form, you can serve it basically just as it is.Make a little antipasti plate, with Parma ham, a little bit of cheese, some olives and sundried tomatoes. Enjoy with a glass of chilled white wine and take a break from the everyday life.

Another variation, that you may have come across in Italy, is pizza with Parma Ham. You can make this yourself easily. Simply a normal pizza dough rolled out and baked with topping of tomato sauce and mozzarella. Next, when the pizza is done, top it off gently with rocket salad and slices of fresh Parma ham. Add some cherry tomatoes cut in half to give acidity and sweetness. These servings beam of Mediterranean sunshine.

However, as autumn is approaching rapidly there are other ways to use Parma ham more in tune with the season. If you make a creamy cauliflower soup, for example, you can take it to the next level with Parma ham. How? Simple. Oven bake some slices on baking paper so they completely dry up. Then crack the baked ham into little pieces and sprinkle on the soup. You now have a beautiful hearty soup, topped off with intense flavoured salty Parma ham sprinkles. Add a little fresh watercress as well and you have a restaurant dish.

 

Papaya Halved

Cooking methods

Although Parma ham is excellent simply served freshly cut, you can also use it for cooking. The best way to incorporate Parma ham is to oven bake it. Not just by itself, but wrapping it around other ingredients, thus enhancing their flavours. An excellent example is asparagus wrapped in Parma ham. Parma ham also works well with other sources of animal protein, such as chicken breasts, pork medallions and even cod fish.

 

Salad Papaya Parma Ham

Best parings for Parma ham

If you want to use the Parma ham fresh, the best pairings are other fresh ingredients. The classic is with melon, but actually you can make the classic a bit more exotic by switching the melon with papaya. Otherwise, fresh tomatoes and fresh mozzarella also work well with the rich and salty taste of the ham. When it comes to hot dishes, my favourites are asparagus or figs wrapped in Parma ham and then baked. When baked or grilled, the salty and savory flavour of the ham intensifies and lifts the other ingredients.

Still, what better pairing with parma ham than a good glass of heavy red wine from Italy? I can just imagine myself sipping such wine overlooking the sunset in Italy.

Lunch Summer

Serving

You can serve the rocket salad with Parma ham alone as a lunch or a light dinner. Perhaps with just a slice of baguette on the side. Otherwise, you can also make it into to a fuller meal, and serve the salad as a side for  a grilled chicken breast. I have recently used it as a side dish for a family barbecue, providing a fresh edge to the smoky grilled meat.

What is your favourite way to enjoy Parma ham?

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Rocket Papaya Parma Ham

Rocket Salad with Parma Ham, Papaya, Parmesan and Pecans


★★★★★

5 from 6 reviews

  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
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Ingredients

  • 70g (2 oz) rocket/arugula leaves, washed
  • 6 Parma ham slices
  • 1 papaya, peeled and seeds removed and sliced
  • 10 pecan nuts
  • 6 slivers of Parmesan

Instructions

  1. Place all the ingredients in a big salad bowl and mix.
  2. Divide evenly between two plates and drizzle with your favourite salad vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

  • Category: Main
  • Cuisine: International

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 308
  • Sugar: 12.5 g
  • Sodium: 1363 mg
  • Fat: 15.4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 21.5 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 21.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 59 mg

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Parma Ham

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fiona says

    4th September 2017 at 3:18 pm

    I just tend to eat it as antipasti! Not very inspired!

    Reply
  2. Ren Taylor says

    4th September 2017 at 3:30 pm

    I love it with melon as a starter x

    Reply
  3. stuart hargreaves says

    4th September 2017 at 3:41 pm

    Wrapped in cheddar sheese

    Reply
  4. maureen findley says

    4th September 2017 at 4:12 pm

    this is absolutely perfect for me

    Reply
  5. Tracy Nixon says

    4th September 2017 at 4:30 pm

    I love it wrapped around chicken and asparagus!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Rebecca Brown says

    4th September 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Parma ham is best as part of a cheese and bread finger food feast!

    Reply
  7. Nick grant says

    4th September 2017 at 6:05 pm

    on a salad or sometimes just a sneaky sneak from the packet

    Reply
  8. Tracey Peach says

    4th September 2017 at 6:55 pm

    In a salad at the moment I go through fads with food

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  9. laura banks says

    4th September 2017 at 8:28 pm

    i had it recently wrapped around asparagus and it was yummy

    Reply
  10. Kat B says

    4th September 2017 at 9:01 pm

    On a pizza with some mushrooms, mmm!

    Reply
  11. julie laing says

    4th September 2017 at 9:08 pm

    with some fruit

    Reply
  12. Solange says

    4th September 2017 at 10:31 pm

    Parma ham, goats’ cheese and rocket canapés.

    Reply
  13. Suzanne says

    4th September 2017 at 11:43 pm

    With melon and cherry tomatoes.

    Reply
  14. Tracey Belcher says

    5th September 2017 at 6:13 am

    I love it wrapped around halloumi and fried

    Reply
  15. Dannii says

    5th September 2017 at 8:39 am

    Parma ham adds so much flavour to a salad. I like the idea of adding papaya too.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  16. Jan Bennett says

    5th September 2017 at 9:02 am

    Oh my that looks delicious – I could eat that right now for breakfast!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  17. Jemma says

    5th September 2017 at 11:13 am

    I love sweet and salty salads. The addition of papaya is just genius. Never thought to put it in a salad before.

    Reply
  18. Susan Hoggett says

    5th September 2017 at 12:51 pm

    I like it crisped up on top of a pasta dish

    Reply
  19. frances hopkins says

    6th September 2017 at 8:47 am

    On crackers

    Reply
  20. Claire glace says

    6th September 2017 at 1:57 pm

    with foccacia bread x

    Reply
  21. Mary N says

    6th September 2017 at 6:09 pm

    I love Parma ham wrapped around herb butter and mozzarella chicken breasts and baked.

    Reply
  22. amy bondoc says

    6th September 2017 at 7:39 pm

    i love it with mozeralla cheese, rocket and balsamic vinegar

    Reply
  23. Andrea Upton says

    6th September 2017 at 9:44 pm

    With some Melon

    Reply
  24. cheryl hadfield says

    8th September 2017 at 10:13 am

    on multigrain crackers

    Reply
  25. Jade Hewlett says

    8th September 2017 at 1:04 pm

    I like it with melon

    Reply
  26. Jo Carroll says

    8th September 2017 at 8:20 pm

    Pancetta-wrapped trout is simply scrumptious. x

    Reply
  27. Stephen Wilson says

    9th September 2017 at 3:23 pm

    With some melon

    Reply
  28. Heather Bowie says

    10th September 2017 at 11:50 am

    With melon, yum

    Reply
  29. Mickie Bull says

    16th September 2017 at 8:29 am

    With cream cheese on Ryvita!

    Reply
  30. Margaret Clarkson says

    17th September 2017 at 10:26 am

    With my home made focaccia and a salad.

    Reply
  31. Rich Tyler says

    19th September 2017 at 12:31 pm

    As antipasti, with french bread & oil

    Reply
  32. Iris W says

    19th September 2017 at 4:40 pm

    Just on it’s own with crusty bread r wrapped around chicken breast baked in the oven

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  33. francis lee says

    27th September 2017 at 11:05 am

    in nice crusty bread and mayonnaise

    Reply
  34. michelle thompson says

    28th September 2017 at 7:40 am

    i love it crispy on top of salad

    Reply
  35. elaine malcolm says

    28th September 2017 at 6:54 pm

    on a cocktail stick wrapped with melon and cheese

    Reply
  36. Robyn Clarke says

    28th September 2017 at 10:38 pm

    On crusty tiger bread with baby spinach leaves and a dash of balsamic glaze.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  37. Sue Robinson says

    29th September 2017 at 2:41 pm

    Wrapped around asparagus is my favourite way to enjoy it.

    Reply
  38. Catherine Gregory says

    29th September 2017 at 4:35 pm

    On a pizza with lots of mushroom and sundried tomaro

    Reply
  39. Emma Davison says

    29th September 2017 at 7:01 pm

    Wrapped round chicken breasts

    Reply
  40. Claire Little says

    29th September 2017 at 8:35 pm

    around chicken breasts

    Reply
  41. ellie spider says

    29th September 2017 at 8:36 pm

    I like it with some sliced potatoes, onions, grated cheese and mushrooms in an omelette

    Reply
  42. Diana says

    29th September 2017 at 9:17 pm

    On it’s own! 🙂

    Reply
  43. George Wright says

    29th September 2017 at 10:55 pm

    I love making an Italian style salad with mozzarella, sun blush tomatoes, basil, olives, rocket and of course Parma ham.

    Reply
  44. Natalie Crossan says

    29th September 2017 at 11:58 pm

    I actually enjoy it on its own 😀 xxx

    Reply

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