Antipasto Skewers - Easy Italian Appetizer Recipe (with VIDEO!) (2024)

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This antipasto skewers recipe is the perfect lazy day Italian appetizer for a large crowd. They can easily be made from store-bought pickled items or your pantry stash!

Antipasto Skewers - Easy Italian Appetizer Recipe (with VIDEO!) (1)

One of my favorite appetizers is these delicious antipasto skewers.

They are a great way to start the party and perfect for folks who like to graze when eating.

Also, they’re great for social butterflies because you can carry your whole appetizer around on a stick with you.

What is better than that? I say nothing; I love food on a stick and easy appetizer recipes.

You are probably familiar with many appetizers with Italian roots, like crostini (check out myholiday crostini barideas) and bruschetta.

But my favorite is an antipasto platter, a selection of cured meats, cheeses, olives, roasted peppers, and marinated vegetables.

Antipasto Skewers - Easy Italian Appetizer Recipe (with VIDEO!) (2)

Antipasto Skewers Recipe Appetizer

Antipasto can comprise so many different things.

When you make these easy antipasto skewers, I want you to take liberties and substitute or add your favorite classic antipasto ingredients.

Since you usually eat each ingredient independently, I don’t think it’s as important as it would be if the flavors go together.

Antipasto skewers are a charcuterie board alternative that takes less thinking and is a fun addition to any party. Thanks to these antipasti skewers, dinner parties and bridal showers just got a lot more fun.

Antipasto Skewers - Easy Italian Appetizer Recipe (with VIDEO!) (3)

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Antipasto Skewer Recipe Notes:

Before preparing your wooden skewers, marinate your cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese.

I like to marinate my cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella in ablend of Italian spicesand olive oil(olive oilis one of my splurges!)for about an hour before preparing my appetizer skewers.

Of course, this step isn’t necessary, but since it doesn’t take that long, why not do it.

The rest of the items I chose can be found in the condiment aisle of your local grocery store – just look for all the weird pickled things and go crazy!

After preparing your antipasto skewers, cover them with plastic wrap and keep them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Leftover Antipasto Skewers

You have some options if you have any leftover antipasto kabobs. You can store leftover skewers in an airtight container for several days. Or you can use the leftover ingredients to make antipasto pasta or salad.

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Antipasto Italian Appetizers

Antipasto means before the meal in Italian, and this easy recipe is the perfect Italian appetizer.

Antipasto skewers are highly customizable, so you can tailor them to your preferences and the availability of ingredients.

They are perfect for serving as an appetizer before an Italian meal or as a standalone snack for entertaining.

Traditional antipasto inclusions that are perfect for skewers are:

Cured Meats: A selection of cured meats such as prosciutto, salami slices, coppa, and bresaola. These meats provide rich, savory flavors and complement other items on the platter.

Olives:An assortment of marinated or brined olives, including green olives, Kalamata olives, and Castelvetrano olives. They add a briny and slightly bitter note.

Cheeses: Various kinds of cheese, both hard and soft, including mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan, Gorgonzola blue cheese, and Pepper Jack. These cheeses offer different textures and tastes, from mild and creamy to sharp and tangy.

Pickled Vegetables: Pickled vegetables such as artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, giardiniera (pickled mixed vegetables), and pepperoncini peppers contribute a tangy and crunchy element to the platter.

Marinated Vegetables: Marinated vegetables like sun-dried tomatoes, grilled eggplant, and marinated mushrooms add depth and flavor variety.

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Fish and Antipasti

While fish isn’t typically a standard inclusion in traditional Italian antipasto platters, there are exceptions, and regional variations may incorporate seafood or fish-based items.

These seafood elements are often enjoyed in Italian cuisine but may appear on a separate seafood or antipasto di mare (seafood antipasto) platter.

Here are a few seafood items that you might want to serve alongside the antipasto skewers:

Marinated Anchovies: Marinated or pickled anchovy fillets can be served as a salty and briny component.

Marinated Octopus: Tender pieces of marinated or grilled octopus may appear on some antipasto platters, especially in coastal regions.

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Smoked Salmon: Thinly sliced smoked salmon can be included for its delicate and smoky flavor.

Sardines: Marinated or grilled sardines may appear on a platter, especially in Mediterranean-style antipasto platters.

Baccalà Mantecato: This Venetian specialty includes creamy, whipped salted codfish served on crostini.

Cured Fish: In regions like Sicily, you might find cured or salted fish like swordfish or tuna.

Seafood Salad: A mixed seafood salad featuring shrimp, calamari, and mussels, often dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs.

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What should I serve with antipasto skewers?

Roasted Nuts: Salted or spiced nuts, such as almonds or cashews, provide a crunchy contrast to the other items.

Fresh Vegetables: Fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips offer a refreshing and crisp element.

Pieces of Bread and Crackers: Slices of rustic Italian bread, grissini (breadsticks), and various crackers serve as a vehicle for enjoying the other components.

Dips and Spreads: Some antipasto platters may include dips and spreads like hummus, olive tapenade, or baba ghanoush to add extra layers of flavor.

Fresh Herbs: Sprigs of fresh basil leaf, rosemary, or parsley can be used to garnish and add fragrance to the platter.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A small bowl of high-quality extra virgin olive oil for drizzling over bread or dipping.

Lemon Wedges: Lemon wedges or slices can be included for a touch of citrus brightness.

Looking for more appetizer skewers? Try these Tortellini Caprese Skewers.

Antipasto Skewers - Easy Italian Appetizer Recipe (with VIDEO!) (8)
Antipasto Skewers - Easy Italian Appetizer Recipe (with VIDEO!) (9)

Antipasto Skewers

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This antipasto skewers recipe is the perfect lazy day Italian appetizer for a large crowd. They can easily be made from store-bought pickled items or your pantry stash!

Ingredients

  • 4 sweet banana wax peppers, cut in half
  • 8 golden pepperoncini
  • 8 artichoke hearts
  • 8 black olives
  • 8 marinated cherry tomatoes
  • 8 marinated fresh mozzarella balls (Bocconcini or Ciliegine)
  • 8 cheddar cheese chunks
  • 8 pickled crimini mushrooms
  • 8 slices of Genoa salami
  • 8 slices of prosciutto
  • 8 slices of soppressata

Supplies

  • 8 bamboo skewers

Instructions

  1. Take a skewer in hand. Slide one of each ingredient onto the skewer. Repeat until all skewers are full.
  2. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 436Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 2475mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 5gSugar: 11gProtein: 28g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and may not be correct.

Did you make this recipe?

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Antipasto Skewers - Easy Italian Appetizer Recipe (with VIDEO!) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between antipasto and antipasti? ›

Antipasto is the singular term (an antipasto), while antipasti refers to the collective or plural (a platter with different kinds of antipasti). If you're referring to a single appetizer, like a piece of cheese or bread, call it an antipasto.

What are the three types of antipasto? ›

The Different Types and Purposes of an Antipasto
  • Antipasto.
  • Primo: pasta, rice, gnocchi, soups.
  • Secondo: meat, fish, vegetarian.
  • Contorno: side dish.
  • Dolce: pastry, dessert.

What are the most popular starters in Italy? ›

Among the most popular Italian starters include Bruschetta, Caprese salad, Carpaccio, and Crostini.

Is there a difference between charcuterie and antipasto? ›

Focus: Antipasto is a platter that contains a combination of cured meats, cheeses, vegetables, and other complementary items, whereas charcuterie is primarily focused on cured meats. Origin: Antipasto originated in Italy, while charcuterie is a French term.

What are the rules for antipasto? ›

There are no hard and fast rules, but antipasto platters usually feature a combination of charcuterie, cheeses, dips, sliced or roasted vegetables, olives, nuts, fruits and pickles.

What do Italian people eat after the antipasto? ›

After antipasto, you might opt to have either only a primo or only a secondo instead of both. Often, one dish of pasta suffices at dinnertime. Or you might have a chicken cutlet or pork chop. A piece of swordfish or salmon are other common options.

What is on the menu of antipasto? ›

Antipasto is served in small portions, and ingredients are typically sliced into smaller pieces. A usual antipasto platter will include dried tomatoes, various cheeses, olive and olive tapenades, anchovies, artichoke hearts, prosciutto and cured deli meats.

What is the English equivalent of antipasto? ›

In the US, antipasto is thought of as an hors d'oeuvre or an appetizer. The word itself, antipasto, means "before the meal," from the roots anti-, "before," and pasto, "food." The plural of antipasto is antipasti. "Antipasto." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/antipasto.

What is typically on a charcuterie plate? ›

But as these communal boards have gotten more popular for entertaining at home, the definition has expanded to include abundant displays of meats, cheeses, dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, toasted nuts and briny olives, plus honeys, jams, jellies, chutneys, mustards and more!

What is Italy's typical antipasto? ›

In the central region of Tuscany, crostini are common, while in the southern region of Calabria, you're sure to find fresh mozzarella or 'nduja. In general, traditional antipasti include cheese, cured meats, olives, marinated or pickled vegetables, and bread or crackers.

Is antipasto the same as hors d oeuvres? ›

The Appetizer Course

In English, we call these appetizers. For the French, they are the hors d'oeuvre. They are called antipasti in Italian, where they can be served hot or cold, cooked or raw.

Is prosciutto an antipasto? ›

Antipasto is traditionally the first course of an Italian meal, but why not turn it into the main event. We use a winning combination of Mediterranean ingredients like prosciutto, mozzarella, and olives served over arugula. A quick-to-make vinaigrette and homemade croutons (bonus, there's minimal prep!)

What are the 7 appetizers? ›

7 Appetizers for Entertaining
  • Beer-Battered Cauliflower Bites with Jalapeño Cheddar-Style Dipping Sauce. ...
  • Gooey Mac & Cheese Balls. ...
  • Mini Steak & Blue Cheese Pizzas. ...
  • Sweet Pea Ricotta Spread. ...
  • Burrata Mushroom Bites. ...
  • Endive Bites with Goat Cheese, Figs & Honey. ...
  • Stuffed Dates with Ricotta.
Nov 18, 2020

What are traditional Italian snacks? ›

Traditional Italian snacks feature a mix of savory and sweet options, such as olives, taralli, grissini (thin, crunchy breadsticks), and arancini, as well as sweet indulgences like biscotti and cannoli filled with ricotta cheese.

What is a good appetizer to serve before lasagna? ›

Antipasto is a traditional Italian appetizer and very easy - you just assemble various already prepared ingredients: sliced salami, pepperoni or prosciutto, olives, marinated artichoke hearts, pickled peppers, some hunks of good Italian cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano, Bocconcini or smoked mozzarella, Boursin, etc) and ...

What is an Italian appetizer course that often begins the meal? ›

Antipasto. This traditional Italian meal starts with something to nibble on before the main courses commence. These appetizers can include cold and hot dishes like cheese, soppressata, and bread.

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