When these dates arrive, it is very common to search for special recipes and preparations to surprise our loved ones with the most gourmet products. If you're looking to include ibérico ham appetizers for Christmas in your menu, you've come to the right place!

At Enrique Tomás, we are going to share with you the ham appetizers that serve to whet the appetite of everyone, from adults to the little ones in the house!

Appetizers with ibérico ham for Christmas: easy to prepare

Persimmon with ibérico ham and mozzarella

We're talking about a very simple and absolutely delicious "roll" appetizer. You'll have it ready in just over five minutes.

The combination of ibérico ham with melon is a classic among the sweet and savory contrasts, but do you want to try it with other fruits? This dish is perfect and very original! An option that will make you succeed with the diners during the holiday season.

Ingredients for 4 people

• 100 grams of acorn-fed ibérico ham
• 2 persimmons (also known as "palosantos")
• 2 mozzarellas
• Fresh chives
• Oil
  
  

Preparation

1. Peel the persimmons, cut them in half, and then in half again to have 16 persimmon segments.
   
   
2. If you have a whole piece of ham, slice approximately 100 grams into thin slices. In the case of pre-sliced ham packets, let them reach room temperature for a few minutes so the slices separate and have the perfect texture.
   
   
3. Wrap each fruit segment with ham; you won't need toothpicks to secure them as the ham's natural fat will keep it in place.
   
   
4. Put a little oil in a pan, you don't need to use much since the ham already releases natural oil. Now add the persimmon segments with ham. Wait until they are golden and crispy. Remove them from the pan and it's time to plate!
   
   
5. Cut the mozzarellas into slices; they will serve as the base for this recipe.
   
   
6. Chop the chives.
   
   
7. Place three mozzarella bases on each plate and arrange the persimmon segments on top according to your preference. Garnish with chives and a drizzle of oil, and you're ready to go! Enjoy!
   
   

Persimmon with ibérico ham

Crispy Pastry Cups Stuffed with Ham and Cheese

"Volovanes" are a classic for Christmas as they are perfect for serving as appetizers on special occasions. Furthermore, they allow you to unleash your creativity when choosing the ingredients. At Enrique Tomás, we propose cooking the more traditional ones: the ham and cheese stuffed pastry cups. Kids love them!

You have the option of buying ready-made volovanes and just filling them or you can also make them at home.

• If you want to make them yourself, we recommend a recipe that you will love: Homemade Puff Pastry Cups.
  

Ingredients for 4 people

• 12 volovanes (store-bought or homemade)
• 100 grams of ibérico ham from grain-fed pigs
• 75 grams of semi-cured cheese
• ½ onion

For the filling's bechamel sauce:

• 3 tablespoons of flour
• Milk
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Start by chopping the onion, and as soon as it's finely chopped, put it in a pan with a bit of oil. Add salt to help it cook faster. While you wait, cut the cheese and ibérico ham into small cubes. Alternatively, you can buy pre-packaged ibérico ham cubes or shavings from Enrique Tomás. They're perfect for this recipe.
2. Once the onion is ready, add the ham.
3. Now, let's make the bechamel sauce: add a little oil to a pot, add the flour, stir, and gradually add the milk. When you see that it's thickening, add the cheese, ham, and onion mixture, and continue stirring. Preheat the oven to 180ºC (356ºF).
4. Once everything is well mixed, you can start filling the volovanes with the bechamel sauce and put them in the oven. Bake for about five minutes, and they're ready!

Ham and Cheese Stuffed Pastry Cups

Oven-Baked Scallops with Ham

Seafood is a must during these dates, and if you want to prepare it in a special and original way, this is your recipe! Including ibérico ham in dishes tends to be a hit. We'll show you how to incorporate it in this case to make these two gourmet products of our cuisine shine together, without losing their aroma or flavors.

Ingredients for 4 people

• 12 scallops
• ½ onion
• 100 grams of 100% ibérico acorn-fed ham. In this case, we choose the "Pata Negra" from Enrique Tomás.
• Breadcrumbs

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the scallops, both the shell and the mollusk. To do this, you need to separate the shell from the mollusk. Clean the shell completely until you only have the larger white part left, then rinse it and place it back on the mollusk.
2. Cut the ibérico ham and onion into small cubes and place them in a bowl along with the breadcrumbs. Mix everything. You can also opt for 100% ibérico ham shavings, which have an intense flavor and a very pleasant texture that fits perfectly in this recipe.
3. Preheat the oven to 200ºC (392ºF) with both upper and lower heat.
4. Spread the prepared mixture over each scallop and then put them all in the oven. Wait for ten minutes, and they're done! Take them out, wait for them to cool down a bit, and you'll see how delicious they are!
   
   
   

Oven-Baked Scallops with Ham

Quince Paste, Ibérico Ham, and Cheese Rolls

Quince paste, ibérico ham, and semi-cured cheese rolls are an excellent appetizer for shared meals or dinners. They are a great choice as part of an elegant "tapas" spread for any celebration and ideal for the holiday season. Plus, it'll only take you 15 minutes to prepare, and it's very simple.

Ingredients for four people

• Your favorite type of bread (we've chosen whole grain bread for being lighter and healthier)
• 100 grams of 100% ibérico acorn-fed ham
• Quince paste
• A piece of semi-cured cheese

Preparation

1. Start by flattening the slices of bread to make them thinner and easier to roll up with all the ingredients.
2. Spread the slices of 100% ibérico acorn-fed ham evenly on a flat surface, or wherever you're going to prepare the rolls. Make sure they are positioned without gaps and overlapping (as shown in the image) so that the roll comes out perfectly.
3. Place the flattened bread on top of the ham and add small pieces of cheese, covering the entire surface of the bread.
4. Add the quince paste pieces on top.
5. Now it's time to roll! Roll it carefully, starting from the end of the ham at the bottom, without letting it come apart.
6. Ready! Serve it with some seasonal nuts and enjoy.

Quince Paste, Ibérico Ham, and Cheese Rolls

Manzanilla Shrimp with Ham

This dish is the perfect option if you want a hot ham appetizer, and preparing it is extremely easy! All you need for four people is:

Ingredients for 4 people

• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 200 milliliters of Manzanilla wine
• 200 milliliters of fish broth
• 10 grams of cornstarch
• 500 grams of peeled red shrimp
• 40 grams of ibérico ham cubes
• Oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
  
  
  

Preparation

1. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic cloves. Place the oil in a pan and, once it's hot, add the garlic and onion. If you cook it over low heat, it will be perfect.
2. Once the onion is tender, add the wine and 100 ml of fish broth. Increase the heat to the maximum for two minutes to let the alcohol evaporate, and use this time to dissolve the cornstarch in the other 100 ml of broth.
3. Lower the heat again and add the dissolved cornstarch, the shrimp, a bit of salt, and black pepper. Wait for two minutes, then add the ham, stir, and wait for two more minutes. Your shrimp are now ready! Serve them hot and enjoy how delicious they are!

Manzanilla Shrimp with Ham

These are our favorite appetizers for Christmas, but if none of these have convinced you, you can always opt for the classic plate of thinly sliced acorn-fed ham, cut with love.

It won't disappoint anyone! The important thing is to enjoy!