Nautical Knot Appetizer (Printer-friendly)

Playful braided prosciutto and string cheese appetizer perfect as a pizza border or flavorful snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy & Cured Meats

01 - 8 sticks string cheese (mozzarella, part-skim preferred)
02 - 8 slices prosciutto, thinly sliced

# How To Make It:

01 - Lay a slice of prosciutto flat on a clean surface. Place one string cheese stick at one end and roll it up tightly. Repeat for all cheese sticks.
02 - Take two prosciutto-wrapped cheese sticks and gently braid them together from one end, twisting carefully to avoid tearing. Continue braiding pairs until all are braided. Optionally, braid three sticks together for a thicker rope.
03 - Arrange the braided ropes around the edge of a pizza or flatbread before baking, or serve as a snack with dipping sauces such as marinara, pesto, or honey mustard.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No cooking required, just your hands and about fifteen minutes of braiding meditation.
  • It looks like you spent hours perfecting it when really you just wrapped some cheese in meat.
  • Works as a standalone snack, a pizza topper, or a party show-off that people always ask about.
02 -
  • Patience with the braiding keeps the prosciutto intact, so resist the urge to rush or pull too hard.
  • If you want that crispy texture, baking them separately before adding to pizza gives you control over how done they get.
  • Speck or jamón serrano work beautifully as substitutes and sometimes taste even better than traditional prosciutto.
03 -
  • Keep your work surface clean and your hands slightly cool so the cheese doesn't start leaking out of the prosciutto.
  • If you're making a big batch for a party, assemble them an hour ahead and keep them on a parchment-lined tray in the fridge until it's time to serve or bake.
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