Cantaloupe Prosciutto Fruit Kabobs

Looking for a healthy, refreshing and flavorful appetizer that captures the essence of summer? Transform traditional cantaloupe salad into the perfect summer finger food with this simple fruit kabob recipe.

This recipe captures the key components for a delicious fruit salad and applies them to individual skewers making them the perfect summer finger-food and a festive fruit kabob!

Sweet cantaloupe, salty prosciutto, savory herbs with a hint of acidicity from the raspberry balsamic dipping sauce.

This is a perfect alternative to the traditional melon salad because the skewers turn the salad into the perfect picnic finger food! No utensils necessary!

Why this recipe works

The sweetness from the cantaloupe pairs beautifully with the saltiness of the prosciutto, the creaminess of the cheese and the tanginess of the raspberry balsamic vinegar.

Prep time is minimal for these fruit shish kabobs – cut melon into bite size cubes or use a handy melon baller to make melon balls

Versatile – the key components of a delicious fruit salad are: sweet, salty, savory, herbs and acid-typically in the form of a hint of vinegar

Ingredients

The beauty of this festive fruit kabob is that you can incorporate whatever ingredients you like. Here’s the ingredients for this recipe, but scroll down to see variations.

• Ripe cantaloupe
• Prosciutto
• Fresh mozzarella balls-the small ones (Ciliegine) work best for this recipe
• Raspberries – fresh red raspberries pair beautifully
• Green grapes
• Red onion-optional, but the sweet onion gives a nice savory balance to the combination
• Fresh basil leaves or arugula- for plating
• Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar – I use Texas Hill Country Olive Company brand; it’s a dark balsamic vinegar. There are other brands you can use or you can use a white raspberry balsamic vinegar from Grapevine Olive Oil Company
• Honey
• Salt (optional)
• Skewers – you can use long wooden skewers or find pretty decorative ones at your local party store

This is a spin off the traditional cantaloupe prosciutto salad you’ve seen before. The main difference is the skewers turn the fruit salad into sassy party kabobs! And the delicious raspberry honey dipping sauce makes this a great sweet and savory party food!

How to make it

To make these cantaloupe prosciutto fruit kabobs, start by selecting a ripe cantaloupe. Ideally, you want a sweet ripe melon from a local farmer’s market, or a sweet Pecos cantaloupe or Sugar Queen cantaloupe, which you can find at roadside fruit stands or sometimes at the grocery store.

Cut the melon in half and remove the seeds.

Cut the orange flesh into bite-sized pieces or use a melon baller and form bite size melon balls. Gently roll each slice of prosciutto into a tube shape and cut into halves or thirds; set aside 

Chop red onion into 1″inch bites; rinse and pat dry grapes; drain mozzarella balls from the packaging liquid; set this all aside.

Assembling the fruit kabobs and serving suggestions

For a pretty presentation, you’ll want to load the skewers with alternating ingredients: add cantaloupe, prosciutto, cheese, raspberry, onion. Repeat the sequence ending with a fresh red raspberry!

I serve these sweet and savory fruit kabobs on a decorative platter or in a bowl. You can get a little piece of floral foam to put in the bottom of the serving bowl. Place a layer of spinach or arugula over the foam, then stick each fruit kabob into the foam.

Another serving option is to place place a single layer of fresh herbs on a serving platter, position the slightly chilled fruit kabobs in a nice arrangement with the handle part of the skewer on the outside of the platter; place a small to medium bowl of the balsamic dipping sauce in the middle with a small serving spoon.

Fruit Kabob Raspberry Honey Dipping Sauce

The easy sauce for this cantaloupe prosciutto appetizer is absolutely the star of the show in this easy summer recipe! Delicious and super-simple! In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together raspberry balsamic vinegar, honey and a dash of salt (optional).

If you prefer not to have the dipping sauce with a spoon, pour it into a squeeze bottle and let your guests drizzle a little of the tangy sauce over their cantaloupe fruit kabob.

Make ahead and storage

For best results, these are best when made on the day of your party or event. You can prep the cantaloupe into bite sized pieces first (which saves a lot of time) and store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Not only are these fruit kabobs delicious, but they’re also healthy and nutritious! Cantaloupe is low in calories and high in vitamins A and C, while the salty prosciutto provides protein and iron.

This recipe is perfect for a light lunch or as a side dish for a summer barbecue. Serve it alongside grilled chicken or fish for a complete meal. It’s also a great option for a picnic because it’s easy to transport and assemble.

Fruit Shish Kabob Ideas and Variations

You can easily turn these fruit kabobs into your own creation! If you want to get creative with this recipe, there are plenty of variations you can try.

• Melon – Substitute the cantaloupe with other melons such as honeydew or watermelon
• Cheese – cubed cheddar, smoked cheddar, Gouda or smoked Gouda pair well with the fruit
• Vegetable– I use grape tomatoes but you can use sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes or red bell pepper
• Prosciutto – you can substitute with different types of cured meats like pancetta, cooked bacon, diced ham, dried beef jerky or cooked sausage
• Herbs-substitute fresh basil with mint, peppery arugula, baby spinach or kale
• Dipping sauce – you can use a store bought fruit dip like a poppyseed dressing or combine sour cream and marshmallow cream together for a fabulous sweet dipping sauce

These healthy fruit kabobs are a versatile party food that can be enjoyed all summer long. It’s a great way to offer an alternative to the traditional cantaloupe prosciutto salad and add seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables to your party menu, while still indulging in some tasty and satisfying flavors.

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