Prosciutto & Balsamic & Bubbles: A Perfect Pairing
I never used to give much credence to the idea that wine could change the taste of food that much. Well, color me a convert. The difference that just the RIGHT wine can make to the perfect bite can be significant. Wine you never would have thought you’d like suddenly becomes delicious. A bite of food that, on its own, is tasty all of a sudden reveals flavors you never knew were there. This is a perfect example of that alchemy between grape and grub.
Servings Prep Time
4people 10minutes
Servings Prep Time
4people 10minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Slice bread into 1/2 inch slices, and toast just until dried but not completely browned. Spread thin layer of goat cheese on each toast.
  2. Top toast with 1-2 slices of prosciutto. Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Be sure not to overdo the glaze–a little of that beautiful nectar goes a long way in flavor.
  3. Serve with a dry Prosecco and tell me you aren’t sold on that pairing!
Recipe Notes

Like yesterday’s post on antipasti, there are so many varieties and pairings for a simple bruschetta like this.  If you don’t want to build the bites ahead of time and allow people to build their own flavors, go for it.  Or if you are not a fan of balsamic (gasp!), a drizzle of really good olive oil will be a great counterpoint to the saltiness of the prosciutto.

If you can’t find prosciutto, you can use a pancetta or other very thin sliced, salted pork or ham.  Don’t want to leave the house in the cold?  Let Amazon bring it to your door!  Whatever you choose, even though the results will vary for the pairing, imagine what fun you’ll have exploring the possibilities!

As for the sparkling wine, a brut Prosecco (dry sparkling wine) is what you want for the pairing.  There are many out there, and you don’t have the break the bank to find a good one.  Personally, for an American-made Prosecco, I am a big fan of VJB Cellars Prosecco.  It’s a smaller production vineyard in the Sonoma Valley, and it’s really something special.  If you ever have the good fortune to be in that area, look them up.  You won’t be disappointed.