During the curing process the fat of Serrano ham gets converted into all sorts of good healthy things.
Spanish ham is widely recognized as a healthy part of the Mediterranean diet. It is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, vitamins B1, B2 and niacin.
The fat in Spanish ham is made up of oleic acid (the ‘good´ fat found in olive oil). Oleic acid promotes the production of HDL (the ‘good´ cholesterol), while reducing the dangerous cholesterol known as LDL.
100 grams of ham provides one quarter of the recommended daily intake of niacin and one third of protein. (And 50% more protein than fresh meat.)
100 grams also contains only 70mg. of cholesterol and 200 Kcal of energy.
So not only does it protect the heart and lower cholesterol it is also one of life’s ultimate taste sensations. Surely, if it got any better, they’d make it illegal!
Click the links below for more info on Serrano ham.
The Denominaciónes de Origen of Serrano hams
Storing, carving and eating your ham
Feeding and breeding of the ham