For the Italian style dinner that I served my book club last week, I started the meal with this delicious and easy Antipasto Salad. What makes this salad special, is the addition of the slightly spicy, pickled vegetables, called giardiniera. You can find it at most grocery stores, either with the pickles and olives or in the speciality Italian food section. There are usually two varieties; mild or spicy, but for this salad recipe, the mild is best.
The vegetables are unexpected and give the salad a lovely crunch. For the dressing, you can use your favorite oil and vinegar based recipe or in the interest of time, use a good quality Italian dressing from the store. I find there are many speciality dressings available now, that have great flavor and taste as good as homemade. This salad can be put together ahead of time - just pile everything on top of the lettuce and toss with the dressing right before serving.
Antipasto Salad
2 bags romaine lettuce
1 large jar mild giardiniera
2 cups chopped, peeled cucumbers
1 container cherry tomatoes, halved
1 can medium black olives, sliced
1 jar roasted red peppers, chopped
Italian dressing
Shredded Mozerella cheese
Place the lettuce in a large salad bowl. Layer all vegetables on top lettuce, ending with giardiniera. Just before serving, toss with dressing. Serve with Mozerella cheese on the side.
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Now that sounds like a perfect salad/idea!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to be my "go to" gal for something new to serve!
I made your Spicy Sausage Dip for our Paint Night last night and it was a hit!
Next up, Antiipasto Salad!
That looks OH SO YUMMY! I am eating lots of salads these days:) Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!
ReplyDeleteThe salad looks and sounds delicious!! Throw on some hard salami and some chopped prosciutto and make it a meal, all by itself! Yum!
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy, Vicki. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteI love a good Italian salad!
ReplyDeleteYum!...:)JP
ReplyDeletemmmm...I make this one all the time too! Another addition is to add big chunks of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese. It soaks up all the pickled flavor and is yummy!
ReplyDeleteI have a jar of gardiniere in the pantry which I didn't know what to use it for. Now I know what do do with it. Great recipe!
ReplyDeleteYum, I love antipasto salad. Sounds yummy! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
I love the idea of the tang of the giardiniera. Plus, this salad is so colorful - it would brighten any table!
ReplyDeleteOh, YUM! What a wonderful salad... bright, beautiful, healthy, and tasty! :) Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We'd love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/02/05/home-matters-linky-party-23/ :)
ReplyDelete~Lorelai
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