135 italian appetizer recipes

Italian asparagus. How to cook asparagus Italian-style. Classic flavor-packed cold marinated asparagus with an onion, caper, lemon and mint dressing. Perfect to make ahead and serve anytime with simple ingredients. It's even vegan and vegetarian.

Rich and packed with flavor but without the unhealthy fats. Slightly sweet carmelized onions and sundried tomatos topped with cheese on crispy toast (crostini).

Flavourful salami and cheese wrapped in a warm buttery croissant. A quick and easy snack or light lunch.

Eat heartily, accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. In fact, I typed this accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. My parents were here, and both were shouting instructions over my shoulder. They disagreed about the arrangement of the lettuce - my mother said that the hole in the middle of the platter was necessary; my father insisted that it wasn't, saying you can just dump the tuna on top of the lettuce. I finally had to give up on this reply until they went home. So now, in the peace and quiet of the aftermath, I've finished it. Hope you had a wonderful holiday.

In Italian, “crostini” means “little toasts.” Crostini are made by slicing a French or Italian bread stick or baguette. Then rubbing with garlic and olive oil and toasting or grilling until crisp.

Saltimbocca alla Romana: pounded veal layered with prosciutto and fresh sage, seared in butter and finished with a dry white wine pan sauce. The classic Roman trattoria dish.

Italian-seasoned popcorn tossed with garlic-oregano butter and grated Parmesan cheese. A savory 3-ingredient snack ready in 15 minutes that beats plain buttered popcorn every time.

Mortadella is one of the most popular cold cuts we have in Italy. It's a typical product from northern Italy, made of pork meat, little chunks of porkfat and spices. It's tasty and savoury, the perfect filling for a sanwich, and ideal for stuffings. It's definitely my favourite 'salume' ! Try it in this recipe, it's a special starter - delicate and sofisticated - and it's EASY to prepare! I found this recipe on the website of a famous producer of traditional Italian cold cuts.

Garlic toast brushed with slow-infused garlic olive oil and baked until pale gold. A three-ingredient Italian appetizer base ready for grilled red peppers or any topping.

Insalata verde e rossa, an Italian red and green salad with dandelion leaves, watercress, and radishes in olive oil and red wine vinegar. A bitter greens salad with peppery bite.

Classic Italian antipasti platter with roasted red peppers, marinated vegetables, olives, and Parmesan served with crusty bread for an elegant no-cook appetizer.

Mushroom mozzarella bruschetta made with cream of mushroom soup, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and melted mozzarella on toasted French bread. A cheesy, savory appetizer baked until bubbly.

Italian stuffed mushrooms with escargot and garlic-lemon butter, browned under the broiler. Old-school continental appetizer that turns canned snails into elegance.

This is a basic risotto rice . Many ingredients may be added, such as green onion, peas, sliced mushrooms, clams, shrimp, lean hamburger or chicken.

Fresh mushroom slices marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, chilled until tangy and tender, perfect with breadsticks.

Refined Verona-style antipasto with paper-thin prosciutto, crunchy celery root matchsticks, and Parmesan wedges on bitter radicchio for an elegant Italian starter.