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  • The Main Dish
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Prosciutto Breadsticks with Creamy Pesto Dip

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This appetizer looks cool on the table and is tasty yet easy. Hard Italian bread sticks are wrapped in prosciutto and then dipped in a kicked up creamy pesto with lemon, basil and Parmesan cheese.

Prosciutto Wrapped Grissini sticks

Grissinis, wrapped in prosciutto, look great on the appetizer table, paired with a delicious dip. For a fun presentation, you could serve the Prosciutto Grissinis standing up in a glass with the creamy pesto dip off to the side. It takes no time at all to wrap the bread sticks for dipping. I toasted them just for a few minutes in the oven to help the prosciutto kind of shrink around the breadsticks and to add a crispy texture to the meat (this step is optional). If you’re not a fan of prosciutto, you could use black forest ham or even roast beef. Just ask your deli to slice the meat super thin. Wrapping the sticks is easier if you cut the meat into 1-inch wide strips and wrap multiple strips of the meat until the bread is covered as far down as you want.


Collage of Prosciutto being wrapped around bread sticks

What are Italian Grissinis?

Itialian Grissinis are hard bread sticks that are easily sourced at any local grocer. Also known as grissini, grissino or dipping sticks, these pencil-sized sticks are crisp, dry baked bread that originated in Italy.

Ingredients for making Creamy Pesto Dip

Cream cheese – You could also use sour cream, Greek yogurt, or hummus

Basil pesto – Store bought or homemade

Pine nuts – Pine nuts are ground into most basil pestos and a few extra for the dip adds nice texture and added flavor

Garlic

Lemon – Zest and juice is added to the dip

Parmesan cheese

Olive Oil

I wanted the creamy pesto dip to have lots of flavor but not be overpowering. Adding lemon juice and zest, as well as Parmesan, garlic, and extra pine nuts put the flavors over the top and the lemon makes for a super fresh taste. Prosciutto Wrapped Breadsticks with Creamy Pesto Dip is a great party appetizer or first course.

Prosciutto Wrapped Grissini sticks

Change it up depending on your party theme. For a Mexican theme, use roast beef and switch out the basil pesto for chopped jalapeños. Use cheddar instead of Parmesan cheese and omit the pine nuts,. Use creamed avocados in place of the cream cheese and sprinkle with red pepper flakes.

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Prosciutto wrapped Breadsticks with Creamy Pesto

Effortless and elegant, these prosciutto wrapped breadsticks are flavorful and take no time at all. The creamy pesto becomes even more flavorful with added pine nuts and Parmesan, even though those ingredients are in most pestos. Serve immediately or make ahead and refrigerate.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 270
Author Sally Humeniuk

Ingredients 

For the Breadsticks:

  • 4 ounces Grissini style traditional breadsticks, about 20 breadsticks- one package
  • 20 slices prosciutto, sliced thin (about ¼ pound)

For the Creamy Pesto:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp basil pesto, or more if desired
  • 2 tbsps pine nuts, divided
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest from 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsps shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling

Instructions

Make the Grissini Bread Sticks:

  • Preheat oven to 325F degrees.
  • Take 20 bread sticks out of the package. Leave whole for a fun presentation, or break in half if you want prosciutto to cover the entire stick.
  • Cut ¼ pound prosciutto into 20 strips approximately 1 inch wide and wrap around the end of each grissini. Keep adding strips until bread stick is covered as much as you want.
  • Place prosciutto-wrapped sticks on baking sheet and heat just enough to shrink up the meat so it adheres to the bread stick and crisps the edges of prosciutto a bit. Only heat them for about 5 minutes. Watch the bread sticks so they don't start to burn. If making the grissinis ahead of time, bake them first, refrigerate until about 20 minutes before serving. Allow to come to room temperature before serving. Do not reheat them in the oven or they will become soft under the prosciutto and will fold over like a bunch of dead flowers.

Cook's Note:

  • The baking step is optional but if you have a few minutes to do it, it adds just a nice crisp edge to the prosciutto.

Make the Creamy Pesto:

  • Mix 8 ounces cream cheese and 2 Tablespoons basil pesto in a small bowl. Finely chop 1 Tablespoon pine nuts and add to mixture. Zest the lemon into the other ingredients, then juice and stir that in as well. Add 2 Tablespoons shredded Parmesan. Taste and add more pesto, lemon juice or Parmesan to your liking.
  • Spoon creamy pesto into serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle remaining pine nuts on top. The creamy pesto can be made up to one day ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature to allow dip to soften again before serving.

Notes

  • Any favorite deli meat can be used for this recipe; roast beef or ham are great options.
  • make this a vegetarian appetizer and replace the deli meat with strips of Swiss cheese, or other semi-hard cheese that slices well.
Nutrition Facts
Prosciutto wrapped Breadsticks with Creamy Pesto
Amount Per Serving
Calories 270 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 45mg15%
Sodium 405mg18%
Potassium 94mg3%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 400IU8%
Calcium 43mg4%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Prosciutto wrapped around hard bread sticks with creamy pesto dip at top

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Published on January 29, 2014

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About Sally - Good Dinner Mom.

About Good Dinner Mom

My name is Sally and I love to be in the kitchen. Making fresh, unique dishes is my way of showing love for family and friends and I hope that here you’ll find recipes of both healthy and indulgent dishes that will inspire you to cook more at home while sharing some love of your own. more about me

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