33 antipasti recipes

Garlic marinated olives with lemon, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns, and sherry. A make-ahead antipasto jar that gets better every day in the fridge.

Grilled Italian shrimp and salami skewers served warm over fresh mozzarella with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzle and fresh basil. Antipasto on a plate, ready in about 20 minutes from the grill.

Tarragon-marinated mushrooms with sliced ripe olives, onion, and garlic in a tarragon vinegar dressing. A no-cook antipasto and party appetizer that keeps for days in the fridge.

In Sicily bistecche like these are served as an antipasto, a contorno, or, when a charcoal fire is going, as one of many dishes in a mixed grill.

Italian balsamic chicken: grilled chicken breasts marinated in balsamic, olive oil, and herbs, then sliced into strips for salads, wraps, or antipasto boards. Meal-prep friendly protein with big flavor.

Italian tuna cheese (caciotta al tonno) topped with fresh anchovies marinated scapece-style in lemon, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Bold antipasto for serious seafood lovers.

Grilled polenta topped with charred radicchio, olive oil, and a drizzle of vinegar. A rustic Italian antipasto where crispy-edged polenta meets the bitter smoky bite of grilled chicory.

Pomodori secchi imbottiti: sun-dried tomato "sandwiches" drizzled with garlic and red pepper-infused olive oil. A simple Italian antipasto with intense flavor.

Italian marinated eggplant sott'olio made with Japanese eggplant simmered in red wine vinegar, then layered with fresh mint, garlic, and red pepper flakes under olive oil. Marinate two days for bold antipasto flavor.

Concia is a Roman Jewish dish of fried zucchini layered with garlic, fresh basil, and white wine vinegar. A make-ahead antipasto that improves overnight.

Italian antipasto tray assembly with rolled salami and cream cheese pinwheels, cherry tomatoes stuffed with horseradish-spiked tuna, olives, and cold cuts. A classic party platter roadmap.

Marinated mushrooms from Mollie Katzen: briefly simmered button mushrooms soaked in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme. A make-ahead vegetarian antipasto or salad topper.

Vitello tonnato: classic Piedmontese dish of cold poached veal under a cool tuna, caper, anchovy, and lemon sauce. An elegant Italian summer main or antipasto, served room temperature.

Lemon macerated okra with Kalamata olives, garlic, bay, and thyme. Raw okra pods marinate in lemon juice and olive oil for 2 to 3 days, turning into a tangy Mediterranean antipasto snack.

Italian tomato and anchovy antipasto with ripe tomato wedges draped with anchovy fillets, dressed in anchovy oil, lemon juice, and fresh oregano. Simple, no-cook, and bursting with umami.

Italian mushroom piccante with sliced white mushrooms simmered in tomato, basil, parsley, capers, and a tangy white wine vinegar finish. A versatile antipasto served hot or at room temperature.