Parma Ham Canapés with Sticky Balsamic Onions & Gorgonzola

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.

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4.93 from 14 votes

Parma Ham Canapés with Sticky Balsamic Onion and Gorgonzola (Proscuitto di Parma stuzzichini)

These delicious Parma Ham canapés are quick to make and extra delicious; the only difficulty is not eating them all yourself! Using ready make canapé cases saves time and hassle for easy and tasty results.

Servings: 24 canapes

Author: Helen Best-Shaw

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

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

• Please note that the nutrition information provided below is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

• Unless stated otherwise cup conversions have been made with an online tool. For accuracy please check with your favoured conversion tool. We recommend buying inexpensive digital kitchen scales.

Nutrition Facts

Parma Ham Canapés with Sticky Balsamic Onion and Gorgonzola (Proscuitto di Parma stuzzichini)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 33 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Cholesterol 2mg1%

Sodium 38mg2%

Potassium 21mg1%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Vitamin A 15IU0%

Vitamin C 0.7mg1%

Calcium 14mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: canape case filling, Parma ham canapes

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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