Guide to Antipasto: Italian Appetizers that Come Before the Meal

What is Antipasto and What Does it Include – Guide to Antipasto: Italian Appetizers that Come Before the Meal

Antipasto literally means “before the meal” and varies from province to province in Italy.  Similar to French hors d’oeuvres or Spanish tapas, antipasto is a combination of small bites of tasty food, usually accompanied by wine (see our wine basics guide) or beer and meant to stimulate the appetite before sitting for the main meal.

The rule of thumb for Italian anitpasto is that there are no rules.  You could probably make an Italian antipasto from some basic, yet high quality, ingredients in your fridge and pantry.  Typically, antipasto includes any combination of the following items:

• Salumi (see our review of Creminelli and Columbus Artisan and Olli)
• Cheese (see our guide to southern Italian cheeses)
• Olives
• Bread
• Oil or vinegar cured and/or pickled vegetables (sun dried tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, cauliflower, etc.)
• Roasted peppers (see our roasted peppers recipe)
• Grilled eggplant (see our classic grilled eggplant recipe)
• Tiny arancini (see our recipe), calzoncini, potato croquets (see our recipe) or other fried delicacies
• Canned fish (such as tuna, sardines, or anchovies), etc.

Some of Our Favorite Antipasto

Our favorite types of antipasto are simple and straightforward and include:

1. Two-three assortments of cured meats, including a Cacciatore, Capicola, and ham (usually Prosciutto di Parma)
2. A few cheeses; usually a hard cheese like Grana Padano and a semi-soft like Caciocavallo or Scamorza. See my Guide to Southern Italian Cheese for more information.
3. Olives
4. Pickled vegetables or sun dried tomatoes cured in olive oil
5. A fresh baguette or one day old bread that has been sliced thin and toasted with salt, pepper, dry oregano, and olive oil.