"Too Delicious Is Not Good Either": A Health Food Once Reserved for Nobles... 1,800 Years of 'Ham on Melon' [Delicious Story]

Italian Health Food: Prosciutto e Melone

A Dish Enjoyed Since Ancient Roman Times

Believed to Balance Bodily Humors with Ham and Melon

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Just as Koreans enjoy Samgyetang as a summer health food, Italians have their own tradition: Prosciutto e Melone. Prosciutto means ham and melone means melon, so the name literally translates to "ham and melon." The custom of eating ham and melon together has continued for as long as 1,800 years, with ancient Romans believing that ham and melon could strengthen the body's immunity.

A Summer Health Food in Italy for Over 1,800 Years

Italy's traditional dish Prosciutto e Melone. Free recipe website 'Italian Chef' homepage

The ingredients for Prosciutto e Melone are thinly sliced salted pork ham and chunks of ripe melon. The ham is placed on top of the melon pieces or, sometimes, cubes of melon are wrapped in ham and served on a plate. The salty flavor of the cured ham and the sweetness of the melon juice create a perfect sweet-and-salty harmony. Prosciutto e Melone has long been loved, especially as a health food during the summer months.

It is believed that Prosciutto e Melone first appeared around the 200s AD, at a time when the Roman Empire was dominating much of the European continent. Melons originally came from Central and Western Asia but were introduced to the Roman Empire around the 100s AD. Prosciutto was made from native Italian pigs. True to the vast empire that united many cultures, this dish represents a fusion of European and Asian culinary traditions.

Born from the 'Humoral Theory' Believed by Ancient Romans

The humoral theory is a medical theory that states the human body must maintain a balance of four different bodily fluids, and it was common knowledge in European medicine at least until the medieval period. The photo depicts an illustration of the humoral theory by a 16th-century German painter. Screenshot from an online community.

Why did Romans choose to pair ham and melon? According to the Italian food culture magazine EATALY, ancient Roman physicians believed in the "humoral theory." This theory claimed that the human body was made up of four fluids, each with either hot or cold properties, and that maintaining a balance between these was essential for health. They also believed that foods had hot or cold qualities, and that balancing these through diet would keep the body healthy.

Cured ham, being dry and warm, was considered a food representing "fire," while soft, sweet, and juicy melon was seen as representing "water." Romans believed that eating the two together would balance the body and boost immunity. This is why Prosciutto e Melone became a popular summer health food. In the past, when greenhouse farming was rare, only nobles could occasionally obtain this dish. However, with advancements in agricultural technology in the late 20th century, it became a beloved dish enjoyed by ordinary people across Italy.

Any Cured Ham Works... Melon Should Be of Medium Quality

Italian cured raw ham Prosciutto. Pixabay

Although the humoral theory so firmly believed by Roman doctors has been proven untrue, Prosciutto e Melone itself remains a food with excellent nutritional balance. Prosciutto is rich in protein and fat, while melon provides vitamins and dietary fiber, supplementing the meal with essential nutrients.

Today, Prosciutto e Melone is a simple dish—just place ham on top of melon—yet its subtle harmony of sweet and salty flavors has made it popular worldwide. Any type of cured raw ham similar to prosciutto can be used, but the key is the melon. The flavor of the melon should not overpower the ham, nor should the ham overwhelm the melon. In other words, you need to find a melon that is just ripe enough—not a high-end variety with a strong aroma, nor a type that's overly sweet, but one that strikes a perfect balance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.