Jamón – The Artisanal Ham Of Spain

Jamón is at the heart of Spanish culture and cuisine.  While Spain’s regions vary in their local food traditions, cured Serrano and Ibérico hams are treasured from coast to coast, from the markets of Barcelona to the bars of Galicia and everywhere in between.

There exist two great traditions of artisanal cured hams in Spain, both of which are a source of enjoyment and great pride among Spaniards:

Jamón Serrano is a cured country ham made from conventional pork. From time immemorial in the mountains of Spain, people have packed fresh hams in sea salt and hung them from their rafters to cure. A year to eighteen months later the jamones are ready.  With no cooking required, these hams are carved into paper thin slices and served with a glass of Spanish wine, or added to a myriad of recipes like croquetas de jamón or added to sautéed vegetables or stews.