Prosciutto translated from Italian is "ham." Specifically, it's a thinly sliced, dry cured ham, the technique for which is a time-honored, regionally specific Italian custom.This prized ham's origins date to pre-Roman times, when winters were long, and the villagers took to dry-aging their pork legs to extend their meat supply.

In the Italian language, the word “prosciutto” translates to “ham.” It is made only from the hind legs of a pig and is aged through a process called dry-curing. One can buy the whole leg as a highlight for a lavish family meal or packaged pre-sliced thin pieces.