Entertaining has never been simpler.
Our favorite way to entertain? With an easy and delicious board featuring two of the best pairings: Grana Padano PDO cheese and Prosciutto di Parma PDO. We’ll guide you through the pantry essentials to keep on hand to make any last-minute afternoon hangout one to remember.
Start with a Strong Core: Grana Padano PDO & Prosciutto di Parma PDO
The key to a perfect aperitivo board is having strong anchors. A flavorful, nutty cheese that everyone loves and a complex, savory-sweet prosciutto crudo are our go-tos.
Crumbly and crystalline, Grana Padano PDO is nutty and flavorful with aromas of butter and hay. With a minimum of 9 months aging, this incredible cheese evolves as it ages: the older the cheese, the more savory and complex, boasting a more grainy texture. We recommend a Riserva 20–24-month-aged Grana Padano PDO for aperitivo boards to best savor the uniqueness of Grana Padano.
Called the "King of Hams," Prosciutto di Parma PDO is aged twice as long as many other prosciutti, creating a depth of flavor and buttery texture. Producers must follow strict legal and time-honored guidelines that are 100% natural: no additives, just sea salt, air, and time. By law, Prosciutto di Parma PDO is cured for at least 400 days (starting from the date of first salting), and some may be cured as long as 3 years. As Prosciutto di Parma PDO ages, the flavor becomes richer, more complex, and pleasantly drier in texture. For enjoying as-is, we recommend using a medium-aged Prosciutto di Parma PDO, between 16–24 months, as the nutty or earthy flavor is slightly more defined, ideal to enjoy on a board while balancing with other flavors.
Add Your Somethings: Sweet, Salty, Crunchy...
It's time to fill out the rest of your board. For easy last-minute entertaining, we recommend keeping a mix of these bites in your pantry and fridge to throw together any aperitivo.
Something Sweet
Savory Grana Padano PDO shines when paired with something sweet. Honey and chocolate are easy go-tos that are pantry-friendly, but some of our favorites are fresh and dried fruits. Grapes, berries, apples, and pears all bring out surprising flavors in Grana Padano PDO. As for fruit with Prosciutto di Parma PDO, can you name a more iconic pairing than Prosciutto e Melone? The natural sweetness in this prosciutto crudo matches perfectly with the sweetness in fruit.
Something Salty
We could call this category several things, but salty summarizes it well. Briny, salty bites are another staple on aperitivo boards, and for good reason. Salty, maybe slightly sour foods like pickles and olives keep your palate interested in going back for more. This brightness helps elevate the richness and play with the sweetness in Prosciutto di Parma PDO. As for Grana Padano PDO, lightly salted almonds or other nuts are a great accompaniment to pull out the nuanced flavors of the cheese.
Something Crunchy
This category can overlap with Something Salty, but we think it's worth calling out how essential it is to add texture to your aperitivo board. Grana Padano PDO has a natural grainy texture thanks to how it's made. More texture only helps elevate that! Adding texture to your board with crisp crackers or crunchy fresh produce adds variety while you're snacking. Plus, the richness of Prosciutto di Parma PDO is highlighted against the snap of a grissini.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
