How to cook a classic Italian salad "Antipasto"
It is a classic Italian antipasto salad with a crispy base of romaine lettuce, topped with pepperoncini, pepperoni, olives and Parmesan cheese. It is characterized by a colorful combination of ingredients and a bright flavor. SSPDaily tells about it.
The Lemons for Lulu website writes: "What is antipasto salad? It is a layered dish made with ingredients such as lettuce, pepperoncini, olives, pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese. It is most often served cold as an appetizer or first course."
Ingredients you will need to make "antipasto"
For the salad:
- Romaine lettuce
- Pitted black olives
- Pitted green olives
- Family heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
- Pepperoncini piquanti (or spicy pepperoncini)
- Artichoke hearts
- Genoese salami
- Hot pepperoni (optional)
- Feta cheese
- Parmesan shavings
- Medium-sized red onion
For garlic croutons :
- Bread (stale if possible, but fresh is fine)
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Garlic cloves
For the dressing :
- Olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Italian seasoning
- Dried basil
- Black pepper (or a mixture of peppers)
How to prepare the Antipasto salad
First, prepare the ingredients for the salad:
- Wash and chop the romaine lettuce.
- Cut the red onion into thin slices and place in a bowl of cold water. This will remove the overly spicy flavor and make it crispy.
- Cut the artichoke hearts into quarters.
- Optionally, cut the black and green olives in half or leave them whole.
- Wash and chop the tomatoes.
- Cut the Genoa salami and pepperoni into small pieces.
- Slice the pepperoncini without leaving them whole. This will help distribute the flavor and spiciness throughout the salad.
- Cut the feta cheese into small cubes
How to make croutons
- Cut the bread into small cubes.
- Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Cut the garlic cloves in half and sauté them in the olive oil until golden and fragrant.
- Fry the bread cubes in olive oil for 5-7 minutes until they are golden and crispy. Sprinkle with salt and set aside.
How to make the dressing
Combine olive oil, salt, garlic powder, dried basil, Italian seasoning, pepper, and fresh lemon juice in a small bowl.
Whisk with a whisk or fork until well blended and set aside.
Make the salad
Remove the red onion from the cold water and let it drain.
Make the base of the dish with romaine lettuce.
Arrange all the remaining ingredients on top of the salad to make it pretty or mix everything together Right before serving, pour the dressing on top and mix well.
How to serve Antipasto salad
Antipasto salad can be served as an appetizer or a side dish. It is ideal for meetings, family dinners, lunches or buffets. It also makes a great light lunch or dinner option if served with crusty bread. To add more protein, add shrimp, salmon fillet or sliced chicken breast to the salad.
