Ingredients
2 large romaine hearts, chopped
1/2 lb. salami
8 oz. mozzarella balls, halved
1 c. quartered artichoke hearts
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1 c. chopped pepperoncini
1/2 c. sliced olives
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Step 1In a large bowl toss lettuce, salami, mozzarella, artichokes, tomatoes, pepperoncini together. Step 2Make the vinaigrette: In a jar fitted with a lid, shake together olive oil, vinegar, mustard, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Step 3 Dress salad with vinaigrette and serve.
Based on the classic Italian appetizer spread, our Antipasto salad has a bit of everything you’d find on a typical Antipasto platter: cured meat, marinated vegetables, and of course, cheese! This recipe contains our favorite combination of these ingredients, but no two antipasto platters are the same, so feel free to customize the salad to your taste. Read on for more information and tips on this twist on an Italian appetizer. And if you’re looking for more antipasto in your life, check out these antipasto squares or these antipasto bites. What is antipasto salad? In Italy, antipasto is an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, and pickled or marinated vegetables that are eaten before the meal– essentially appetizers. Much like charcuterie boards, the specific meats, cheese, and vegetables can vary, depending on whoever’s creating the spread. In this salad, we’ve selected a variety of items that would typically belong on an antipasto platter and tossed them together with romaine and a simple red wine vinaigrette for an easy one-bowl spin on the classic. I don’t like salami. Can I substitute something else? Sure! Any cold smoked or cured meat would work– try prosciutto, mortadella, or even pepperoni. If you’re not a fan of meat in general, you could also just leave it out. It’s your salad– make it the way you want. I don’t have mozzarella balls. Can I substitute shredded mozzarella? We love those mini mozzarella balls– they’re basically cheese nuggets, if you think about it– but you could substitute shredded mozzarella in a pinch. You could also try shaved asiago or fontina, or any other mild white cheese. What can I serve with this? In Italy, antipasto platters often include grissini (basically thin breadsticks), so if you’re feeling ambitious, why not try making your own homemade breadsticks? And if you’re looking to follow it up with a classic Italian main course, try one of our favorite weeknight pasta dishes. Made this yet? Let us know how it went in the comments below.
