Spicy Tuesday – Clementine and Serrano Skewers with Honey Lime Dressing – Cardamom

Sometimes the simplest ideas create the best flavors. What could be better than juicy, sweet citrus fruit wrapped in a strip of salty Serrano ham, showered with chopped basil and drizzled with a bright citrus dressing? I can find Serrano in the local Costco, Whole Foods, Aldi and Lidl but this effortless appetizer would taste super with prosciutto as well.

Cardamom is a spice we don’t use often in the United States, although it’s added to cuisines all over the world in both savory as well as sweet dishes. Cardamom is a good source of minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Additionally, it is also an excellent source of iron and manganese. It also contains plant chemical compounds that are known to have been anti-oxidant, disease preventing and health promoting properties.

Clementine and Serrano Skewers with Honey Lime Dressing

• 2 TB Honey
• 1 Lime, zested and juiced
• ¼ tsp Ground Cardamom
• ¼ tsp Cinnamon
• 1 Bunch Basil, chopped
• 4 oz Serrano Ham (or Prosciutto), thinly sliced
• 4 Clementines, separated into 2-segment wedges
• 1 Pint Grape Tomatoes, cut in half 

Step One

Shake first 5 ingredients together in small jar.

Step Two

Wrap a strip of ham around each Clementine wedge and skewer with toothpick. Place on a platter and sprinkle with basil. Add the grape tomatoes and drizzle with honey lime dressing.