Antipasto is an authentic Italian dish served as a large communal meal or as an appetizer. Antipasto means "before the meal", and is the same as the French hors d'oeuvres in France or the Spanish tapas in Spain.http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/antipasto.php The types of foods served as antipasto are pickled foods (vegetables), cured meats (ham, sausage), canned meats or fish (tuna, salmon) and wine. The more simple the ingredients, the better the meal.

Pickled foods brined in vinegar, salt water, just water, and oil are served as an antipasto side dish. Bell peppers can be roasted, brined, or raw, served along side with slices of bread. Artichoke hearts, canned or jarred, can be served along side with cheese and crackers. Olives, green and black olives, stuffed or not, served with cheese.http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/antipasto.php

Cured and canned meats and fish are also served as a side dish with antipasto. Prosciutto or ham, salami, pepperoni, sardines, tuna, and salmon are a source of protein for the antipasto meal and pair well with vegetables, cheese and wine.http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/food/a/antipasto.html

Wine, bread, and cheese accents the meat and vegetables. Any kind of your favorite bread or cheese can be served. The types of wine that can be served with an antipasto are pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, and a Riesling.http://www.abconwine.com/pairing_food_wine.htm

Assorted Cheeses

Mozzarella: Made with either cow’s milk or buffalo milk. Has a soft texture, harder than cream cheese, but softer than cheddar.http://www.mozzco.com/mozzhisty.html

• Bocconcini: Is a miniature version of mozzarella cheese, about 1 inch across.http://www.epicurious.com/tools/fooddictionary/entry?id=1450
• Parmigiano-Reggiano: Parmesan cheese is a hard cheese with only 30% water. Adds a lot of flavor to food.http://www.parmigiano-reggiano.it/en/come/caratteristiche_nutrizionali/default.aspx
• Pecorino: Any cheese made from sheep’s milk. Can be fresh like mozzarella cheese, or hard like parmigano reggiano.http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/products/cheese-eggs-milk-products/pecorino-romano/
• Provolone: Made from cow’s milk. Can be aged between 2 months, up to 2 years.http://www.chefsbest.org/provolone-9350.htm

Olives

Green Olives: Are the youngest olives. They are picked before ripened in the month of October. Can be bitter tasting.http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/olives.php http://www.cookeryonline.com/olives/Olive%20Pickling.html

• Pink olives: Are a reddish, light brown color, the stage just before being fully ripe. Picked in November.http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/olives.php
• Black olives: Fully ripened olives, are picked in December.http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/olives.php

Deli Meats

• Pepperoni: Made from beef and pork. It is dried, and ready to eat.http://www.recipetips.com/glossary-term/t--33703/pepperoni.asp
• Salami: Made from pork, with salt, pepper, garlic, and fennel flavoring. Can be raw, cooked, or dried.http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/salami-salame.asp
• Prosciutto: Is Italian ham either raw or cooked. Prosciutto is cured with salt and air dried, not smoked.http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/prosciutto.asp
• Capocolla: Comes from the shoulder of the pig. This Italian ham is slow cooked and thinly sliced.http://www.ditalia.com/Volpi-Capocolla-Sliced
• Bresaola: Beef that is air dried and has a deep reddish brown color.http://www.ditalia.com/Cured-Meats-Salumeria/Specialty-Cured-Meats/Volpi-Bresaola

Tomatoes

• Cherry tomatoes: Round tomatoes are an inch in diameter. The colors range from yellow to red.http://www.bigoven.com/whatis.aspx?id=Cherry+Tomatoes
• Grape tomatoes: Smaller than a cherry tomato, half an inch in diameter, are in the shape of a grape.http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/cooking/grape-tomatoes-recipes-mar07
• Campari tomatoes: Has the perfect balance of sweet and acid. Are sold together on a vine.http://www.villagefarms.com/ProduceVarieties/HydroPerfectProduceVarieties/Tomatoes/SinfullySweetCampari.aspx
• Plum tomatoes: Also known as roma tomatoes. Great to eat raw or made into a sauce.http://www.producepete.com/shows/tomato.html

Bell Peppers: Come in colors yellow, orange, red, and green. The order of ripeness from not ripe to ripe goes in this order: green, yellow, orange, and red. Bell peppers served as an antipasto are usually roasted.http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/month/bell_pepper.html

Sliced Vegetables: A variety of vegetables can be served such as carrots, celery, radish, etc.

• 1 head lettuce, tear into small bite sized pieces or how ever you pleasehttp://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1935,156185-236203,00.html
• Cherry tomatoes, cut in half or leave whole
• Celery stickshttp://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,231,153177-232202,00.html
• Carrot sticks
• 1 red onion, cut into slices
• Scallions, finely chopped
• 1/2 cucumber, cut into slices
• 4 cups cauliflower floretshttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Antipasto/Detail.aspx
• 1 small jar red roasted peppers, cut into slices
• 1 small jar pepperoni
• 1 small jar green olives
• 1 small jar black olives
• 2 small jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained
• 1 can tuna, drained
• 1 can anchovies
• 1/4 pound sharp provolone, cut into cubes
• 1/4 pound genoa salami, thinly sliced
• 1/4 pound hot ham capicola, thinly sliced
• 1/4 pound pepperoni, thinly sliced
• 1/4 pound prosciutto, thinly sliced
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Italian bread

Instructions

1. Prepare all ingredients by chopping, taking out of jars and cans, drained. Use a strainer if necessary.
2. Arrange all meats, canned fish, and vegetables on large platters as you wish.
3. Serve with Italian bread and a dressing if desired. Can also be served with vermouth, dry sherry or marsala.

• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cup
• Tablespoon
• Teaspoon
• Whisk
• 3 medium garlic cloves, finely choppedhttp://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1935,156186-232200,00.html
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried basil, finely chop fresh basil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegarhttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Antipasto-Pasta-Salad/Detail.aspx
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegarhttp://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,231,153177-232202,00.html
• 1 1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions

1. Prepare garlic, basil, oregano, and parsley. Add to a large mixing bowl.
2. Add salt and pepper to the mixing bowl to taste.
3. In a small mixing bowl, add balsamic vinegar and red wine vinegar and whisk together.
4. Add vinegar mixture to garlic and herb mixture. Mix well.
5. Serve with antipasto.