antipasto
Pre-meal Italian nibbles
Antipasto is an Italian appetizer course served before the main meal, typically consisting of cured meats, cheeses, olives, marinated vegetables, and sometimes seafood.
The word literally means "before the meal" in Italian.
In American restaurants, an antipasto platter or antipasto salad often serves as a shareable starter.
We ordered the antipasto while we looked at the menu.
The plural may be antipasti or antipastos.
Small Mediterranean fruits
- prosciuttoUncooked cured Italian ham
- bruschettaGrilled bread with toppings
- capreseItalian tomato-mozzarella preparation
- mozzarellaMild Italian cheese
giardiniera · crostini · grissini · pecorino · salumi · artichokes · anchovies · caponata
Preserved meat preparation
- cured meatsSalt-preserved animal flesh
- cheeseFermented milk solid
- olivesSmall Mediterranean fruits
- picklesVegetables preserved in brine
marinated vegetables · tapenade · crudités · breadsticks · crackers · nuts · dried fruit · honey
Middle Eastern small dishes
Savory olive-caper spread
- hummusMashed chickpea spread
- baba ganoushPureed roasted eggplant spread
- pâtéSeasoned meat paste
- ricottaSoft Italian whey cheese
gorgonzola · labneh · mascarpone · goat cheese · olive spread · sun-dried tomato · artichoke dip · roasted garlic
olives
Small Mediterranean fruits
- prosciuttoUncooked cured Italian ham
- bruschettaGrilled bread with toppings
- capreseItalian tomato-mozzarella preparation
mozzarella · giardiniera · crostini · grissini · pecorino · salumi · artichokes · anchovies · caponata · coppa
charcuterie
Preserved meat preparation
- cured meatsSalt-preserved animal flesh
- cheeseFermented milk solid
- olivesSmall Mediterranean fruits
pickles · marinated vegetables · tapenade · crudités · breadsticks · crackers · nuts · dried fruit · honey · fig jam
mezze
Middle Eastern small dishes
dim sum · pu pu platter · saganaki · dolmas
tapenade
Savory olive-caper spread
- hummusMashed chickpea spread
- baba ganoushPureed roasted eggplant spread
- pâtéSeasoned meat paste
ricotta · gorgonzola · labneh · mascarpone · goat cheese · olive spread · sun-dried tomato · artichoke dip · roasted garlic · white bean dip
prosecco
Italian effervescent white wine
amaro · wine pairing · spumante · digestif · grappa
- Italian foodspaghetti, risotto, gnocchi, ravioli, tortellini
- restaurant fareburger, burrito, chicken, curry, enchiladas
- appetizersmozzarella sticks, canapes, bruschetta, buffalo wings, nachos
- delipastrami, corned beef, salami, roast beef, turkey breast
- European foodbaguette, bouillabaisse, beef bourguignon, coq au vin, croissant
- Italian AmericansItalian Americans, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese