Monday, November 30, 2009

Antipasta Salad


Thanksgiving is of course, an American Holiday, but if you're Italian-American your Thanksgiving Feast will not be complete without some sort of Antipasto, which is a first course, served before the pasta course. Most people have platters of rolled up meats, chunks of cheeses and olives and maybe some pickled vegetables. For as long as I can remember our Antipasta (always ended it with an A instead of an O) was always different and I wouldn't have it any other way. My mother told me that my Aunt Carol (from my Mom's side of the family) started this tradition but I have yet to find out the story behind it. Instead of rolling our cold cuts and arranging them on a platter, we slice our meats and add it with the cheese, peppers, artichokes and lots of other good stuff and put it into a large bowl like you would a salad. We add some olive oil and let the flavors blend together overnight.  The result is amazing! Eat this with some good Italian bread and you have a filling meal right here. I hope you try it this way next time!

Antipasto Salad

Serves 12 (or more) as a first course

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs boiled deli ham, sliced into strips
1 lb genoa salami, sliced into strips
1 stick pepperoni (ask to have it sliced thin)
1 stick soppresata (ask to have it sliced thin)
2 cans black olives, drained
1 jar spanish olives, drained (sometimes we use sicilian olives - use whatever you like or are in the mood for)
1 jar pepperoncini
1  half moon of provolone, sliced into small chunks
6 stalks of celery, peeled and sliced across so they look like half moons
3 jars marinated artichoke hearts with juice
3 jars roasted peppers packed in oil, sliced into strips
2 cans anchovies

*If you can't find soppresata or pepperoni dried sausage (hot and sweet) can be used instead.

Directions:

Toss all ingredients together in a very large bowl. If the ingredients are packed in oil add to the bowl, if packed it water or vinegar, discard.  Drizzle in some olive oil while mixing to create a nice coating without making it too oily.  Refrigerate overnight.  Serve as a first course with Italian bread.




18 comments:

Patti T. said...

That looks absolutely heavenly! I sure wish someone besides me would eat it. I will keep this in mind next time our Italian friends from Philly come to visit.

Giovanna said...

This is heaven on a plate for me! I could eat this all throughout the day : ) YUM YUM Michelle

Dawn said...

this is one of my all time favs. I rarely get to make this as hubby hates it, but when we go out to eat (always Italian) I get this and an extra order to take home. LOL

DDpie said...

I wanna make this soooo bad. My mouth waters every time I hear someone talking about it.

Michele said...

Haha! I guess making it this way is more popular than I thought.

Dawn/Patti - I can't believe your husbands won't eat this. Do they like Italian Subs? It's essential the same thing.

Bridgett said...

I absolutely love this salad. All the salami is right up my alley.

Bob said...

Oooo, that looks awesome. My favorite Italian restaurant has an antipasta bar that is devastating. Next time I go I'll just toss it all on a salad. :D

Sophie A. said...

I haven't been around the food blogging world much lately, but I just saw this on facebook and had to comment. Man, my mouth is so so watering!! So flavorful I bet, I'd loooove to eat this right now.

Jen_from_NJ said...

Your antipasto salad looks so good! Served with some good Italian bread - yum!

teresa said...

this looks just amazing! i love all the meat and cheese, i want it in my belly!

Patti T. said...

My hubby would not go near an artichoke, the best sub I have ever had was at the Reading Terminal Market and they put some kind of artichoke "topping?" on it, yummy!

Theresa said...

Of course, you can't have a holiday without antipasta!!

Cathy said...

Yum, Michele...this looks so good. My daughter picked a fine time to become a vegetarian. :(

matt74 said...

Looks outstanding!..every ingredient seems to compliment the other..great dish!

Christine said...

This looks awesome! In my family we always did the tray with the rolled up meat, cheese, artichokes, peppers, etc. But the funny thing is my sister would always put it on her plate, cut it up and drizzle oil and vinegar and eat it like a salad. Maybe this Christmas I will save her the work and make the antipasta this way instead! YUM

Michele said...

Patti - It must have been artichoke tapenade...yum!

Bob - What restaurant is that? I'd love to look at pictures if they have any on their website!

Christine - that's so funny, definitely try it!

Thanks to all of you who have left kind comments! It's always appreciated! :-)

Pam said...

I be happy eating this for a meal - it looks and sounds fantastic.

Danielle said...

I love antipasta salad!! It looks wonderful Michele!! all those yummy things mixed together....can't go wrong with that :)