Antipasto

For the Hannibal episode, see Antipasto (Hannibal).

"Antipasti" redirects here. For the music group, see Anti-Pasti.

Antipasto

Antipasti served in a restaurant
Place of origin	Italy
Main ingredients	Any of cured meats, olives, peperoncini, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, cheese, pickled meats and vegetables (in oil or vinegar)
Variations	Seafood platter; calamari, mussels, smoked salmon, tuna fish, olives
Media: Antipasto

An American Italian-style antipasti platter with smoked salmon, smoked chicken (underneath), roast beef, pâté, cabana sausage, brie-style cheese, cheddar-style goats milk cheese, Jensen's red washed rind cheese, olives, tapenade, rocket pesto (behind the dish), and tomato sauce

Antipasto (pl.: antipasti) is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Usually made of bite-size small portions and presented on a platter from which everyone serves themselves, the purpose of antipasti is to stimulate the appetite. Typical ingredients of a traditional antipasto includes cured meats, olives, peperoncini, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses (such as provolone or mozzarella), pickled meats, and vegetables in oil or vinegar.

The contents of an antipasto vary greatly according to regional cuisine. Different preparations of saltwater fish and traditional southern cured meats (like soppressata or 'nduja) are popular in the south of Italy, whereas in northern Italy it is common to serve different kinds of cured meats and mushrooms and, especially near lakes, preparations of freshwater fish. The cheeses included also vary significantly between regions and backgrounds, and include hard and soft cheeses.

See also

• List of hors d'oeuvre
• List of ancient dishes and foods
• List of Italian dishes
• Italian meal structure
• Cured meat

Further reading

• Scicolone, Michele (1998). The Antipasto Table. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780880016278. Retrieved April 20, 2012.