Cantaloupe And Mozzarella With Prosciutto And Basil Recipes

Steps:

• Using on/off turns, puree olive oil, 1/3 cup basil, and shallot in processor until basil and shallot are finely chopped.
• Cut each cantaloupe wedge crosswise in half. If using large mozzarella ball, trim and cut into 6 cubes. Alternate 1 melon piece, 1 piece ruffled prosciutto, 1 mozzarella ball or cube, 1 more prosciutto piece, and 1 more melon piece on each skewer. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead; cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature 15 minutes before serving.)
• Arrange skewers on platter. Drizzle with basil oil and sprinkle with cracked black pepper. Garnish with basil sprigs.
• *Available at Italian markets, cheese shops, and some supermarkets.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• On a baking sheet toast pine nuts until golden, about 5 minutes, and cool. In a blender purée basil with oil until basil is minced. Pour purée through a very fine sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on solids, and discard solids.
• Halve and seed cantaloupe. Cut melon into 1/4-inch-thick wedges and discard rind.
• Spoon basil oil onto 4 plates. Arrange melon decoratively over oil and top with prosciutto. Sprinkle melon and prosciutto with pine nuts and cheese.

Steps:

• For the basil drizzle: Combine the basil, parsley, salt, red pepper flakes, garlic, lemon juice and chile in a mini food processor and pulse to make a chunky paste. Add the olive oil and process until smooth and bright green.
• For the prosciutto, cantaloupe and butter sandwich: Spread the butter on both cut sides of the baguette. Drizzle the bottom piece with a tablespoon or so of the basil drizzle. Layer the prosciutto and cantaloupe on the bottom piece of the baguette, ruffling and folding the prosciutto as you go. Drizzle a tablespoon of the basil drizzle over the top. Drizzle the cut side of the top piece with 1/4 cup or so of the basil drizzle. Place the top piece of baguette on the prosciutto and cantaloupe and cut into 2 sandwiches using a serrated knife. Serve the extra basil drizzle on the side or reserve for another use.

Steps:

• With a large melon baller, scoop melon flesh into a large bowl (or cut into bite-size pieces). Add bocconcini, oil, and red-pepper flakes; season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Arrange prosciutto along edges of a large serving platter. Stir basil into melon mixture, transfer to center of platter, and serve.