Saturday, July 19, 2014

Antipasto Salad

Insalata di antipasti...a meal in itself!

Click to enlarge

Antipasto actually means "before the meal" and is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal.  It includes, cured meats, olives, pepperoncini, anchovies, artichoke hearts, and various cheeses.  Turn it into a salad and there are so many goodies in it that it becomes a meal.  Add a loaf of hot, fresh garlic bread and a dessert.  Well, it my humble opinion, it just doesn't get any better than that!

This has an array of wonderful vegetables, meats and cheeses.  Served it on a platter, instead of in a salad bowl, and it makes a beautiful presentation. 


Ingredients:
1/2 head of each, Romaine, Butter & Iceberg Lettuce - rough cut into bite-size pieces
1 container grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin
1/2 lb. of Genoa Salami, sliced thin
1/2 lb. ham off the bone, sliced thin
1/2 lb. Provolone cheese, sliced thin
1/2 lb. fresh Mozzerella, cut in pieces
1/4 lb. Kalamata olives
1 15 oz. can of artichoke hearts, cut in quarters
Small jar of pepperoncini (whole or sliced) your choice
Pine nuts (optional)

-Add marinated mushrooms, cucumbers, shaved carrots, celery.  All work well!  You may have noticed, I left out the anchovies in mine...uh, yeah, I don't do anchovies. 

The night before:
*Layer 1 slice provolone, 1 slice salami, 1 slice ham.  Roll up, and repeat for as many "roll-ups" as you'd like in your antipasto.    Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. 
*Or, just slice and spread around the top separately.  I just think the spirals look pretty.

Wash all your lettuce and dry well.  Roughly chop up and lay in your favorite platter or large dish.  Spread all the other ingredients over the top.  Slice the cheese & meat roll-ups into 1/2 pieces (like a spiral) and place over the top of the salad. 

Just before serving, roast the pine nuts and sprinkle over the top of all.


Dressing:
Click to enlarge
Mix:
1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of dried parsley
1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoons of dry oregano
Salt & pepper to taste

Stir well. Pour over antipasto salad right before time to serve and toss.

If you don't want to make your own dressing, a really good one is a packet of Wishbone Italian dressing.  Use balsamic vinegar or wine vinegar, instead of apple cider, and follow the directions on the package. 


Be encouraged!
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."    -1 John 3:16









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