Antipasto typically includes an assortment of meats, vegetables and cheeses.
Italian antipasto includes platters of chilled and room temperature finger foods conventionally served before Italian dinners. The appetizer selections in antipasto, which means "before the meal" in Italian, traditionally include a mixture of cheese, meats, vegetables and condiments that complement each other visually as well as in taste and texture.
Cheese Choices
Include a selection of hard and soft traditional Italian cheeses in the antipasto. Serve aged cheeses such as Asiago and Parmesano Reggiano, along semi-soft types, including Provolone, Italian Fontina and fresh Asiago. Nestle soft rounds of fresh Mozzarella garnished with fresh basil leaves in between wheels of Brie and Camembert decorated with chopped pistachios and cracked pink and black peppercorns.
Breads and Crackers
Next to the cheese tray, offer an assortment of miniature Ciabatta rolls, focaccia squares and toasted Italian bread rounds. The textures and tastes of the breads pair well with the cheeses, meats and spicy vegetables included in the antipasto. Present plain and flavored, soft and hard bread sticks in tall glasses and serve simple water and whole grain crackers substantial enough to hold small pieces of cheese and Italian meat.
Antipasto Meats
Have the deli cut a variety of salami into thin rounds for the antipasto tray. Include dry, smoked and cured imported types, such as mild coppa, mortadella, sweet and hot sopressata and Columbus and Genoa salami. Present thinly sliced prosciutto, an Italian cured ham, as well as rare, lightly spiced deli roast beef.
Vegetable Selections
Although preserved and roasted vegetables are traditional antipasto ingredients, mixing in fresh grape tomatoes and crisp fennel matchsticks adds flavor and texture to the selections. Decoratively arrange roasted red and yellow peppers, marinated artichoke hearts and giardiniera, a m lange of preserved vegetables on a tray and garnish with lacy, aromatic fennel fronds. Serve baby gherkins, garlic dill pickle chips and oversized capers in separate bowls.
Italian Olives
Visit your local Italian deli and buy a wide assortment of traditional cured black and green olives for the antipasto spread. Purchase house-cured Kalamata, Colossole and Nicoise varieties, as well as packaged gourmet green olives stuffed with unique tidbits, such as blue cheese, almonds and garlic cloves.
Special Additions
The rich complex flavors of antipasto foods are highlighted by simple accompaniments. Set bowls of roasted pine nuts, dried figs and apricots and baked vegetable chips on the table. If zucchini is in season, deep fry zucchini blossoms to add attractive, edible garnishes to the antipasto trays.
Tags: green olives, meats vegetables