Nothing sets up a meal quite like a traditional Italian appetizer. These tasty treats are the perfect complement to any dinner. There are numerous ingredients and foods you can choose from when preparing your ideal appetizer. Here are some Italian appetizers you can serve at your next dinner with family and friends.
A simple, yet eye-pleasing appetizer you can put together is an antipasto platter. This platter contains a variety of cured meats, cheeses and vegetables that your guest will love to nibble on as you prepare the mail course. The great thing about this particular appetizer is the simplicity. Another thought is to add bread or crackers to the tray. This is an extremely easy appetizer sure to please any crowd.
Meatballs are a great appetizer! If you have some extra try, you can create you meatballs from scratch using an easy recipe. My favorite recipe that I have found is on Chef Michael’s blog at www.volpifoods.com. If you like spicy foods, you will love these specially made meatballs. This is a family favorite and has become a food tradition in my house.
Toasted raviolis make for an excellent Italian appetizer and actually come from St. Louis. They are a common appetizer at many restaurants and family dinners in St. Louis. These raviolis are extremely easy to make! To create these, simply bread the ravioli, fry it, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top and serve with Marinara sauce! These zesty raviolis are the perfect addition to any meal.
Select an Italian soup for your appetizer. There are many soups to choose from including Italian bean and pasta, Italian vegetable and minestrone. Above all others, I like the minestrone soup! When you combine the vegetables and pancetta, the flavor becomes the perfect fit for the fall and winter seasons.
Bruschetta has become a very popular appetizer. For those that don’t know, Bruschetta consists of grilled bread, brushed lightly with olive oil and then rubbed with a bit of raw garlic. There are numerous different ingredients you can top the bread with. Chopped tomato, garlic and basil is a common topping mix. There are an abundance of other toppings including vegetables, spicy red pepper, tomato, cured meat, mozzarella and basil.
Those are just a few of the many appetizers you can choose from. These Italian starters make the perfect accompaniment to any Italian meal. Now that you have all these great meal starters, be sure to include one of them at your next dinner. Bon appétit!
