How to Build the Ultimate Antipasti Platter

Antipasti are the Italian equivalent to French hors d’oeuvres. They kick off the meal and can be cold, hot, raw, cooked, or a combination. In Italy, an antipasto can be as simple as a bowl of olives or a plate of prosciutto, but it’s often a more elaborate affair in Italian American restaurants and homes. Multiple antipasti are brought together to create an abundant platter for nibbling among family and friends before a meal.

Like building a charcuterie board, pulling together a platter of antipasti is a creative endeavor. There isn’t one specific recipe. Instead, it’s all about taking a trip to your neighborhood Italian market or usual grocery store to pick and choose a handful of tasty cheeses, salumi, and more. Think of the guide below as a template and, most importantly, have fun with it.

The word antipasto (the singular form of the term) translates to “before the meal” (from the Latin “anti,” or “before,” and “pastus,” or “meal”). Antipasto varies widely depending on the region of Italy. In the central region of Tuscany, crostini are common, while in the southern region of Calabria, you’re sure to find fresh mozzarella or ‘nduja.

In general, traditional antipasti include cheese, cured meats, olives, marinated or pickled vegetables, and bread or crackers. Anchovies and other types of seafood are also common, particularly if you’re by the coast. Fresh vegetables and fruit are often featured too, but they are very much dictated by the seasons, such as fresh figs and cantaloupe with prosciutto in the summer and fava beans with Pecorino Toscano in the spring.

Antipasto is the singular form of the word, while antipasti is the plural form. So, for example, if you set out just a small plate of cheese, it’s an antipasto, but if you also include a bowl of olives, a selection of cured meats, and breadsticks, they are collectively antipasti.

Charcuterie is the French word for cured meats. However, nowadays charcuterie boards feature not just charcuterie, but cheese, spreads like jams and mustard, pâté, crackers, fresh fruit and vegetables, and more. That means a charcuterie board and platter of antipasti are closely aligned, although the latter leans Italian in ingredients.