How to Make Antipasto
Antipasto in Italian means before-the-meal. This is a wonderful creation that can be served as an appetizer or as a meal in itself. In addition, it makes a wonderful party dish. The ingredients are just a suggestion, you may omit what you don't like or can't find. You may also wish to substitute other ingredients to make this dish really your own.
[edit] Steps
- Collect the ingredients listed below. Cut the meat into small cubes and place in a large bowl. You can slice the peperoni into thick slices or cubes.
- Cut cheeses into small cubes and place in bowl. Toss the meats and cheeses to mix well. Add peppers, olives and mushrooms to mixture. You may wish to cut them into smaller pieces.
- Add red wine vinegar to taste. Add plenty of zesty Italian dressing. (The excess liquid will go to the bottom of the bowl) Add crushed garlic to taste. Toss all ingredients.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight, if you can really wait that long.
- When serving, use a large enough bowl and include utensils to allow tossing to coat all pieces with plenty of the dressing.
[edit] Tips
- Olives stuffed with garlic cloves and some of the juice they are packed in make a great addition.
- Some people like to add cherry tomato halves or wedges.
- When purchasing the meat, ask the deli to slice it extremely thick, 1/2" or so to make it easy to cut into cubes.
- If you can find stick peperoni, it will make it easier to get the thickness of slices you desire.
- You might also find peppers that have been marinated just for antipasto.
- Many supermarkets have an olive/pepper bar where you can select your olives and peppers in bulk.
[edit] Things You'll Need
- Pepperoni (thick slices)
- Pepperoncini Peppers (packed in vinegar and oil
- Provolone cheese
- pitted black olives
- green olives w/pimento
- can artichoke hearts
- pure red wine Vinegar
- whole button mushrooms
- cloves of fresh garlic to taste
- Genoa salami
- zesty Italian dressing
- Montery jack cheese
- mozzarella cheese
- prosciutto ham
- Copacola (made with pork)










