This savory antipasto platter recipe brings a burst of flavors with a variety of cured meats, cheeses, olives, and more. Perfect for gatherings and easy entertaining.
It is without a doubt one of the easiest Italian appetizers to make. It does not require any special skills nor tools. Simple chop, assemble and serve!
5 reasons to make this antipasto platter:
- It’s quick – You can get it ready in no time!
- Versatile – Choose what ingredients you prefer. There is no right or wrong when it comes to antipasto boards.
- Simple “recipe” – No cooking is required so everyone can do it!
- Appetizer/Snack/Dinner – It really is the perfect appetizer before your main meal, snack any time of the day or a light dinner to share with your friends.
- Looking for last-minute appetizers? This is the perfect choice. Use what you have on hand – fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, dried fruit, pates, cheeses and deli meats, …
What is antipasti?
It is an Italian word that refers to a platter of bite-size portions traditionally served as a starter or the first course of a meal. Some of the ingredients include cured meats, olives, cheeses or pickled vegetables.
Antipasto platter is pretty much the same as cheese board. You can keep it simple like this one is or make it a theme for literally any occasion. Think Holiday tree cheese board or Easter egg charcuterie board!
You can use individual items or make a bit of an effort and include as well some bite-size snack skewers. Take our recipe for octopus appetizers as an inspiration.
How to make antipasto platter
Tools:
- Large board – or a tray, serving platter or anything that will hold all the bites.
- Small bowls – to serve pate on and for other items – like cheese or olive oil.
- Chopping board & knife.
- Toothpicks – so that your guests can pick the foods without touching them with their hands.
Ingredients:
- Pate
- Olives
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fuet or any air-dried sausage
- Prosciutto di Parma, salami or bresaola
- Cheese
- Cherry tomatoes
- Grapes
- Bread
- Marinated guindilla peppers
- Melon (honeydew or cantaloupe)
Please take this as a guide only and use any ingredients you like. See below for more ideas and look at the pictures to see how to assemble antipasto platter easily.
Expert tips
If you don’t have a serving tray or board large enough to fit your selection of snacks, don’t worry. Simply use 2 or 3 smaller plates instead.
Bowls of various sizes work also great and look good on a table. Use them for small items like nuts, dried fruits or liquids like olive oil, balsamic vinegar or bread dipping oil.
Make sure to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. Please do not substitute with other types of oils! It is a healthy fat that cannot be compared to anything else and should not be substituted here!
When it comes to cold deli meats there are no boundaries here whatsoever. We usually go for Spanish Fuet (dry cured sausage), Italian prosciutto or Spanish jamon.
If you can’t get your hands on fuet, try Italian air-cured sausages or other air-dried meats. Bresaola (air-dried salted beef) is also delicious.
Frequently asked questions:
When to serve Mediterranean antipasti platter?
Like I have already mentioned, this is one of the simple appetizers that does not need a recipe. The ingredients can be easily adjusted to your liking, it can cater for all kinds of diets – vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free and nut-free.
It is perfect for all sorts of events or gatherings. Serve it before dinner or for brunch or lunch. It is also a great last minute game day appetizer.
We like making it in summer, especially when we grill. Throw together a few items and serve them before your grilled chicken thighs, steak or hot dogs are ready. You will have something to nibble on while the meats are cooking!
Can you freeze it?
No, you cannot. The prep is simple and quick and requires mostly cutting only. You really need literally minutes to throw a platter like this together. So, if you think you don’t have 10-15 minutes to spare to make it, I suggest you choose some other appetizers.
Freezing it would simply change the texture of the ingredients, some would turn soggy, while others might dry out.
More Italian appetizers you might like to try:
- Mussels in White Wine Sauce – A delicious seafood dish with a few ingredients.
- Fried Mozzarella Balls – Fried cheese is always a hit!
- Focaccia with Olives – a great addition to any charcuterie board or platter.
Antipasto Platter
Ingredients
- olives of your choice, see note 2
- air-dried sausage e.g. fuet, sliced
- prosciutto , see note 3
- melon , sliced
- cheese of your choice, cubed, see note 4
- grapes
- cherry tomatoes , halved
- pickled peppers
- pate
- extra virgin olive oil , see note 5
- French baguette , see note 6
Instructions
- Arrange all the ingredients on a large platter/serving tray or chopping board. Use small bowls for olive oil, pate and olives. Optional: wrap prosciutto around melon slices and secure with toothpicks.
- Serve with freshly sliced baguette – for dipping in olive oil.
- Best served right away, see note 8.
Notes
- This is only a guide. Use ingredients you like.
- You can use green, black or stuffed with peppers, garlic, almonds, …
- Italian Prosciutto, Spanish Jamon, Bresaola, Salami, …
- Gorgonzola, Goat cheese, Manchego, Cheddar, …
- Don’t substitute olive oil for any other oil.
- French Baguette, Spanish pan de agua or Italian focaccia are all delicious options.
- A platter of the size as shown in the photos would feed about 4 people. Now keep in mind that it depends on when you serve it, i.e. how long from the last meal, or is it going to be instead of the first course of a main meal, or just some nibbles before dinner is ready, etc.
- This platter is best when enjoyed shortly after assembling. Now that being said, you can make it a few hours ahead if necessary. Perhaps 3–4 hours max. To do that you need to make sure it can be stored in the refrigerator. You might want to keep the items prepped and stored in separate containers and assemble them before serving. The baguette should be stored in a dry place, in a resealable bag or airtight container.
Linda Northcutt says
Looks wonderful!