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    Home » Cuisines

    Classic Italian Appetizers (Antipasti)

    Published: Jun 3, 2021 · Modified: Oct 22, 2022 by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Cannot decide what Italian appetizers to serve?  Why don’t you start with these recipes for classic antipasti?  You can never go wrong with these traditional recipes!

    Cover image for Classic Italian Appetizers, June 2021.

    Vegetarian? Hot? Cold antipasto? It can be overwhelming choosing which one to try.

    Well, let’s keep it simple then and start with the authentic Italian appetizers.

    It does not matter what you’re looking for; you will surely find a favorite (or more!) in this list of antipasti recipes.

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    Jump to:
    • Definition of antipasti (difference with antipasto)
    • North Italy
    • Central Italy
    • South Italy

    Definition of antipasti (difference with antipasto)

    Antipasti is the plural form of antipasto, which refers to the first course in a traditional Italian meal — yes, it’s the same as what we call appetizers or starters in English.

    We can say that gorgonzola cheese is an antipasto, or coppa is an antipasto.

    But a whole plate of Italian cheese is called antipasti with or without some Italian cured meat (or crackers).

    An overhead shot of a typical Italian antipasti, cured meats, olives and some bread

    Although it varies per region, antipasti typically includes cured meat, olives, vegetables; served with some bread or breadsticks.

    North Italy

    VENETO

    Polpettine di Carne (Italian Mini Meatballs)

    Polpettine di Carne on skewers, with marinara sauce on the side, and a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano.
    Read Recipe Here

    Polpettine di carne is a perfect example of traditional Italian appetizers that can also be enjoyed as snacks or street food.

    When served as an antipasto, these mini meatballs are excellent with marinara sauce and some green olives on the side.

    Central Italy

    EMILIA-ROMAGNA

    Piadina (Italian Flatbread)

    A sandwich made of Italian flatbread, mortadella and some rucola, served with a glass of white wine, ready to be savoured.
    Read Recipe Here

    Depending on which part of Emilia-Romagna, you would typically see different kinds of bread served with their cured meat.

    You would see tigelle, gnocco fritto, and this Italian flatbread with no yeast.  

    You’ll probably end up making a sandwich with piadina Romagnola, and with a glass of wine — you’re good to go. 🙂

    TUSCANY

    Yellow Pepper Soup

    An overhead shot of a bowl of yellow pepper soup, garnished with croutons and fresh parsley.
    Read Recipe Here

    Light and refreshing, this Florentine vegetable soup tastes like summer in a bowl.  

    The slight sweetness of the yellow peppers (with a hint of fruitiness) makes this antipasto an excellent way to start any meal.

    You can either serve yellow pepper soup with some Italian bread or just add croutons to it.

    Tuscan Bread (Pane Toscano)

    Slices of Tuscan bread served with some salami and olives.
    Read Recipe Here

    Tuscan dishes, including their cured meats, are always more intense in flavor compared with most of the other regions.  

    It’s the primary reason why this no-salt bread, while others find it bland, is perfect for their cuisine — pane Toscano makes the rest of the dishes shine. 

    And don’t worry that they dry quickly.

    Just follow what the locals do, pair your Tuscan bread with other regional Italian dishes dishes like peposo, or use it to make panzanella.

    South Italy

    CAMPANIA

    Mussels in White Wine

    Mussels in White Wine
    Read Recipe Here

    Mussels in white wine is a simple antipasto to prepare, but it sure packs a punch of flavor.

    You’ll get the taste of the sea from the mussels, complemented by the wine’s acidity and the freshness of the parsley leaves added at the end.

    You can use bread to soak up any remaining sauce, but nah, I prefer to spoon (or drink) it like soup.  Yum!

    Polpette di Melanzane (Neapolitan Eggplant Meatballs)

    An overhead shot of a bowl of eggplant meatballs served as an appetizer.
    Read Recipe Here

    Polpette di melanzane is the vegetarian version of meatballs without skimping on its deliciousness.

    Eggplant, parsley, and Parmigiano Reggiano, you will taste all of these in every bite of this traditional Italian appetizer.

    They’re great with marinara sauce, or on their own — and no, these fried eggplant balls are not oily at all!

    PUGLIA

    Italian Bread & Cheese Dumplings

    A closer shot of a serving of bread dumplings with freshly grated cheese and parsley on top.
    Read Recipe Here

    No, not breadcrumbs — you use bread. Bread that is at least a day old.

    Just like eggplant meatballs, you combine almost the same set of ingredients for these Italian bread dumplings.

    But this time, the stale bread absorbs all the mixture’s flavors and helps keep them together.

    Take some caution though, make sure they’ve cooled down a bit before you start eating them.  

    Yep, I learned my lesson the hard way. 🙁

    Taralli (Italian Crackers)

    An overhead shot of a bunch of freshly baked taralli, served with a shot of espresso, with scaterred fennel seeds on the background.
    Read Recipe Here

    Taralli is similar to breadsticks from the north but with some white wine added to the dough and prepared quite differently.  

    I’ve found more variety of flavors with these Italian crackers than breadsticks, though.  

    Taralli Pugliese comes with fennel, black pepper, olives, or turmeric (I kid you not!).

    Regardless of what your preference is, they are all excellent with cured meats.

    CALABRIA

    Patate e Peperoni (Potatoes and Peppers)

    An overhead shot of a skillet of potatoes and peppers, with fresh red bell pepper next to it.
    Read Recipe Here

    This easy Italian appetizer is also excellent as a side dish for grilled meat or fish. 

    The colors and flavors of summer vegetables all combined in one dish, with a bit of Calabrian flare — chili.

    Feel free to tone down (or amp up) the amount of spice, though. That’s the beauty of preparing this potatoes and peppers dish at home.

    SICILY

    Panelle (Sicilian Chickpea Fritters)

    An image showing Panelle in a paper cone, served with slices of lemon.
    Read Recipe Here

    Panelle is made from chickpea flour, and it’s a vegetarian appetizer that can easily be turned into a sandwich for a light meal.

    While it does take time to prepare it at home because you need to wait for the chickpea dough to solidify before cutting and frying the chickpea fritters, they are definitely worth it.

    When serving, just sprinkle some sea salt on these Sicilian chickpea fritters and enjoy.  Simply delicious.

    Arancini Siciliani

    Arancini Siciliani (Sicilian Arancini)
    Read Recipe Here

    Arancini is an excellent use of leftover risotto, but with added meat this time.

    This authentic antipasto comes in either round or cone-like shape, and sometimes the filling would vary — although it’s filled with ragu traditionally.

    Depending on the size, eating a couple of them as an appetizer will probably mean you have to skip the dessert. 🙂

    So, which ones have you tried, and which of these traditional Italian appetizers would you like to try next?  Let me know!

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