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These elegant Antipasto Bites featuring bresaola are a delicious and elegant appetizer and sure to be a hit!

A round plate with six flower-shaped cantaloupe bites, each topped with rolled prosciutto and a basil leaf, arranged in a circle.

All you need is sweet cantaloupe melon, thinly sliced cured beef, cream cheese, lemon, fresh basil, and a flower-shaped cookie cutter.

They come together in no time and are perfect for summer get-togethers and fancy dinner parties! Serve the appetizer as is or skewer it onto a canapé stick for a mess-free bite.

Serving Suggestion

Top the bites onto a simple green salad for an easy and stunning side dish.

Key Ingredients

Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!

Cantaloupe, cream cheese, a lemon, fresh basil, and slices of bresaola.
  • Cantaloupe: Choose a firm melon with a slightly sweet smell.
  • Bresaola: Buy precut slices at your supermarket or get them freshly cut at the butcher.
  • Cream cheese: I prefer plain full fat cream cheese, but use what you like.

Possible Variations

  • Cantaloupe: Swap for any melon you like. Mango would be delicious, too.
  • Bresaola: Try prosciutto, ham, or Serrano.
  • Cream cheese: Try a herby cream cheese, garlic cream cheese, goats cheese, or blue cheese.
  • Toppings: Sprinkle chopped pistachios or grated Parmesan on top or drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or glaze.
  • Size: Use smaller cutters to make these even more bite-sized.
  • Skewers: Cube the melon and stick it on skewers. Top with folded bresaola and fresh basil.

How to Make Antipasto Bites

A hand uses a round cookie cutter to cut centers from flower-shaped slices of cantaloupe.
  1. Prepare the cantaloupe: Slice and cutout the cantaloupe flowers. Cutout the round centers.
Hands roll a slice of cured meat.
  1. Prepare the bresaola: Spread cream cheese and lemon juice onto the bresaola slices. Foll them into roses.
Hands arranging basil leaves on flower-shaped cantaloupe slices topped with rolled cured meat.
  1. Assemble the appetizers: Arrange the bresaola roses into the cantaloupe centers. Garnish with fresh basil.

How to Store Leftovers

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 1 day.

Antipasto Bites FAQs

What else can I serve these antipasto bites with?

Make a delicious antipasto platter and serve with olives, salami, cheese, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, ham, tortellini, etc.

Can I make antipasto bites in advance?

Yes. You can make them up to one day ahead. Cover them with plastic wrap or keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

A plate with flower-shaped cantaloupe bites, some topped with rolled cured meat and basil leaves, arranged in a circular pattern. A bowl with extra cantaloupe slices is in the background.

More Appetizers

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A round plate with six flower-shaped cantaloupe bites, each topped with rolled prosciutto and a basil leaf, arranged in a circle. Two round cantaloupe pieces complete this health-inspired appetizer.
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Servings: 6 people

Antipasto Bites

By Sine Siemkowicz
For an elegant appetizer, try these sweet cantaloupe flowers paired with cream cheese-filled bresaola.
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 cantaloupe
  • 6 slices bresaola, or prosciutto
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • fresh basil leaves, to garnish

Instructions 

  • Slice the melon.
  • Use the flower cutter to make the melon cutouts.
  • Place the round cutter in the middle of the cantaloupe flowers to remove the center.
  • Spread cream cheese on the thinly sliced bresaola.
  • Squeeze some lemon juice on top.
  • Fold up the bresaola lengthwise.
  • Now, roll the strips into a tight rose.
  • Stick it into the center of the melon flowers.
  • Arrange the basil leaves on top.
  • Serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 43mg, Potassium: 159mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 3177IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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