How to Make an Antipasto Platter

Antipasto is generally the first course of a traditional Italian meal, and consists of a heaped platter of meats, vegetables, and cheeses, to be shared among the diners and consumed before the start of the meal. In order to kick an Italian meal off in style, serve up an Antipasto platter, and surprise your guests. Just make sure all your meats and cheeses are cut in a similar fashion, to make the layering look more attractive, symmetrical, and streamlined.

Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: Makes 1 party platter
Utensils: Large serving tray, bowl, spoon, fork, knife, pan, serving plates.

Ingredients:
Heads iceberg lettuce: 2
Garlic powder: 1 tablespoon
Dried oregano: 1 tablespoon
Bottle Italian-style salad dressing: 1 (8 ounce)
Thinly sliced cooked ham:1 pound
Sliced provolone cheese: 2 1/2 pounds
Genoa salami, thinly sliced: 1/2 pound
Capacola sausage, sliced: 1/4 pound
Pepperoni sausage, sliced: 1/4 pound
Prosciutto, thinly sliced: 1/4 pound
Fresh mushrooms: 1 cup
Marinated artichoke hearts:1 (6 ounce) can
Jar roasted red peppers: 1 (7 ounce)
Sliced black olives: 1 (6 ounce) can
Sliced pepperoncini peppers: 3/4 cup
Jar sliced pimento-stuffed green olives: 1 (5 ounce)
Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese: 1/2 cup
Mozzarella cheese, sliced: 1/2 pound
Grated Parmesan cheese: 1/4 cup

Instructions

  • 1

    Start by procuring a large serving tray, or a large platter, on which you can arrange the food. This could be anything from a fancy platter, to a rough, rustic wooden plank on which you can layer and arrange the food.

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  • 2

    Now, begin by preparing the lettuce. Remove the leaves on the outer part of the heads of lettuce, and start arranging 1/3 of these in a layer on your serving platter. Sprinkle on 1/3 of the garlic powder, 1/3 of the crushed oregano, and squeeze on a generous amount of Italian-style salad dressing. Then add a layer of cooked ham and on top of that, a layer of Provolone cheese.

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  • 3

    Over this, add another layer of 1/3 lettuce leaves, 1/3 garlic powder, 1/3 crushed oregano, salad dressing, a layer of Genoa salami and over that a layer of Capacola sausage. Continue the remainder of the layering process with the rest of the lettuce, garlic powder, crushed oregano, Italian dressing, prosciutto, roast beef, and pepperoni sausage.

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  • 4

    After the meat has been layered on, it is time to add on the vegetables. In a similar layering fashion, add on the roasted red peppers, pimento-stuffed green olives, marinated artichoke hearts, pepperoncini, mushrooms, and black olives. Squeeze some more Italian dressing over this.

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  • 5

    Finally, add on all the remaining cheeses – Mozzarella cheese, Gorgonzola cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Cover the Antipasto platter with cling film, pick it up with care, and place it in your refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

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