This prosciutto sandwich with pears and herby Parmesan mayo is a simple but stunningly delicious sandwich that comes together in minutes.

Pumpernickel bread sandwich filled with prosciutto, sliced pears and mayo.

Prosciutto Italian Sandwich

Nothing makes a sandwich at home feel as gourmet as prosciutto. This salty cured charcuterie meat is one of my favorite things to keep in my fridge.

While it’s often seen as part of a charcuterie board or piled onto an Italian cold cuts sub, I like to do a little something different with it.

This Prosciutto Sandwich Recipe pairs salty prosciutto with the natural sweetness of fresh pears. Pumpernickel bread spread with an herby mayo flecked with Parmesan cheese is the vessel that brings it all together.

Why you’ll love this Pear and Prosciutto Sandwich

  • The combination of salty prosciutto and sweet pears creates a harmony of flavors that you won’t be able to resist.
  • It’s a sandwich that is versatile enough for lunch, tea time, or even brunch.
The makings for a prosciutto sandwich recipe on a rustic wooden background, including bread, pears, mayonnaise, cheese and herbs.

Best Prosciutto Sandwich Ingredients

  • prosciutto – you will need thinly sliced prosciutto for this sandwich. The higher quality, the better, since there are so few ingredients in this sandwich. Prosciutto is great on an Easter charcuterie board and breakfast board, too.
  • pear – 1 pear will make 2 sandwiches. I recommend a Green Anjou or Bartlett pear for this recipe. Savuer has a nice article on the many different types of pears, and what each one is best used for.
  • bread – I think the flavor of pumpernickel bread pairs (pun intended) well with these flavors, but you can use whatever type of bread you like best. Even brioche bread, if you have it on hand from French toast with brioche bread.
  • mayonnaise – something like Hellman’s. Definitely NOT Miracle Whip!
  • Parmesan cheese – grated Parmesan cheese will give the mayo a salty, cheesy bite. Extra Parm can be used to make potato cakes from mashed potatoes.
  • fresh herbs – I like a combination of rosemary and thyme for the herby mayo, but again, you can use what type of herbs you like best. Basil would also be good here (and in basil cocktails!). Any leftover herbs can be used in my summer beet salad recipe or to make the herb mayo for a smoked salmon BLT.
  • black pepper – a little bit of freshly cracked black pepper (from a pepper grinder) adds a nice kick to this sandwich.

How to Make a Prosciutto Sandwich

There are only two steps to the sandwich – making the flavored mayo, and then building the sandwich!

First, make the mayo by stirring together the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, herbs and black pepper. This step can be done up to two days in advance and kept in a covered container in the fridge.

Build the sandwich by laying out four pieces of bread and spreading the mayonnnaise on two of the pieces. Layer the prosciutto and pear slices onto the other two slices, and then put the sandwiches together and eat!

Prosciutto Sandwich Home Chef Tips

  • Choose pears that are ripe but still firm to the touch. This ensures they hold up well in the sandwich but are still nice and juicy.
  • Experiment with different types of artisanal breads like ciabatta or focaccia.
  • Drizzle a bit of balsamic vinegar reduction over the pears for an extra layer of flavor.

How to serve Pear and Prosciutto Sandwiches

  • PICNIC – Pack them for a picnic, alongside some cold salads like watermelon feta mint salad and acini de pepe pasta salad.
  • TEA TIME – Cut the sandwiches into small triangles and serve them alongside other finger foods like shrimp deviled eggs for an elegant tea time.
  • BRUNCH – These sandwiches pair exceptionally well with brunch drinks like mimoas and bloody marys with bloody mary skewers.
A prosciutto sandwich made with pears and pumpernickel bread on a rustic wooden tabletop.

Easy Prosciutto Sandwich storage

It’s best to assemble sandwiches just before serving to ensure that the bread doesn’t become soggy.

Store the prepared Herbed Parmesan mayo in the fridge for up to 3 days. Then, slice the pear and assemble the sandwiches just before serving.

Easy Prosciutto Sandwich Recipe FAQs

What to do with extra rosemary:

While fresh herbs really do make a world of difference in this sandwich, I know what it feels like to have to buy a whole package to only use a little tiny bit. Luckily, I have some ideas for how to use up the remaining fresh herbs.

With extra rosemary, you can make rosemary infused simple syrup and use it to make a variety of cocktails, including a rosemary gin cocktail, a grapefruit vodka cocktail with rosemary, and a bourbon rosemary cocktail.

If you’d rather cook something, I recommend my sockeye salmon recipe (which also uses thyme!) or pork chops with applesauce with a side of mini Hasselback potatoes.

What to do with extra thyme:

For any extra thyme, I recommend trying my Brussels sprouts pizza, vegetarian quiche and cheesy corn casserole recipe.

What condiment goes well with prosciutto?

Both herby mayo, like in the recipe below, and whole grain mustard complement the prosciutto.

What is the best cheese for sandwiches?

In this recipe, a bit of Parmesan cheese is included in the mayonnaise condiment. Other cheeses that would be great on this sandwich are brie and fontina.

Does prosciutto go with Gouda?

Yes! The nutty and slightly sweet profile of Gouda pairs really well with salty prosciutto.

Pumpernickel bread sandwich filled with prosciutto, sliced pears and mayo.

Best Prosciutto Sandwich

Yield: 2 sandwiches
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

This prosciutto sandwich with pears and herby Parmesan mayo is a simple but stunningly delicious sandwich that comes together in minutes.

Ingredients

For the Herbed Parmesan Mayo:

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

For the Prosciutto & Pear Sandwiches:

  • 4 slices pumpernickel bread
  • 1 pear, thinly sliced
  • 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto

Instructions

  1. Make the Herbed Parmesan Mayo: In small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, cheese, thyme, rosemary and pepper.
  2. Make the Prosciutto & Pear Sandwiches: Layer prosciutto and pears onto two slices of bread. Spread Herbed Parmesan Mayo onto remaining two slices of bread and use those slices to top sandwiches.

Notes

Home Chef Tip: Don't want your pear slices to brown as quickly? Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a small bowl and add 1/4 cup of cold water. As you slice the pear, dip each slice quickly into the lemon solution, then lightly pat dry on a paper towel.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 346Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 1537mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 6gSugar: 9gProtein: 17g

This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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