Stuck on what to add to your menu for this Christmas peak season or New Year’s Eve functions? If you’re looking to bring the flavours of Italy to your festive menu, adding an authentic Italian antipasto platter may be just what will get your customers ordering.

Translating to “before the meal”, “antipasto” is a traditional Italian first-course meal that includes a range of different cured meats, olives, cheeses, anchovies, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes and a mix of crudites.  

Here are some ideas to get your customers dancing to the tastes and textures of Italy.

 

Focaccia, chargrilled mushrooms, Provolone, Burrata and sundried tomatoes

Boasting a rich combination of healthy and delicious ingredients, this vegetarian antipasto platter will satisfy even the most passionate meat-eaters. 

The star of this platter is undeniably the chargrilled mushrooms, which have been infused with red wine, butter and thyme, and then paired with focaccia bread and two types of cheeses: Provolone and Burrata. This combination creates an equal balance of sweet and savoury. Don’t forget to add plenty of sundried tomatoes to counter the sharp and smoky cheese flavours. 

Tip: Brush the focaccia bread with olive oil and bake for 10 minutes. This makes the bread warm and crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside. 

Prosciutto crudo, coppa, Ligurian olives, grissini and Parmigiano Reggiano

This delicious antipasto is composed of all the classics, including beloved Italian meats, cheeses and olives. 

Centring around the prosciutto crudo and coppa combination, this starter creates an equal balance of salty and seasoned meat flavours. You can then top these popular offerings with Ligurian olives or buffalo mozarella to give your taste-buds a one-two of fruitiness and creaminess. 

There’s no greater pairing than classic Italian cheeses and bread. For this particular dish, we like to add a cheese that’s rich and sharp like Parmigiano Reggiano and pair it with grissini. 

Anchovies, spinach, bruschetta, butter and parmigiano

Warming and delectable, this rustic antipasto is the perfect meal to serve with drinks in the afternoon. We haven’t met anyone that doesn’t love bruschetta, and this take has a little extra bite.

Although there are only a few ingredients to this antipasto, the anchovies and spinach are what make this platter sing. Instead of layering the ingredients onto the bruschetta separately, we like to cook the spinach, anchovies and Parmigiano Reggiano in a pan with olive oil. 

This creates a rich paste that’s jam-packed with flavour! Gently spread the mixture over lightly toasted bread. For extra indulgence, spread butter over the bread before adding the mixture.

Marinated artichoke, olives and roasted capsicum

Chances are you’re already planning to serve up a mix of crudites with your antipasto, but have you ever thought about adding roasted or marinated vegetables to your festive platter? 

Plating up a mix of roasted capsicum and marinated artichokes adds a subtle, yet smoky flavour to super simple and delicious antipasti. These ingredients store particularly well – allowing you to prepare them in advance or arrange at the last minute. 

To really bring out the authentic Italian experience, serve up a side of ciabatta drizzled in extra virgin olive oil, or mozzarella, and a healthy serving of cured meats: preferably prosciutto crudo or soppressa. 

Make it festive! 

Is there anything more festive than a side of something sweet? To add some Christmas charm to your platter, pair the traditional ingredients with a small pot of cherry syrup or dark chocolate with some breadsticks. If you’re catering mainly to adults, don’t forget to supply a rich wine, like a merlot or cabernet.

 

 

Everybody loves to spend Christmas indulging in their favourite food. Take your offering this holiday season to the next level, with genuine and quality ingredients from Visco Selected Fine Foods.