Side Recipes

Italian Antipasto Salad

February 17, 2017
Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main! 
Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!
Can I complain for a few seconds to you guys. I try not to be a complaining person, but man oh man I’m over it. If you read my last post you all know I broke my toe a few weeks ago. That is finally on the mend, but now I’m sick.

Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!
And I don’t mean a little cold sick. No….this is a full blown cold/flu. Body aches, fever, cough and a runny nose. The whole 9 yards. I’m so over it all. I just need a little break. Ok rant over. Let’s move on to salads now.
Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!
Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!
In full disclosure, I’m not a homemade salad type of person. I love to have salads when we’re eating out. But these last few weeks, I really wanted to have at least a few go to salad recipes on hand. When guests came over I want to whip out something that looks nice, but also taste good.
Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!

I found this recipe on food network many years ago. It was an instant hit with my hubby and I have to say that it wasn’t bad either. I ended up adding and taking away numerous ingredients to make it my own. For instance I went and added some black olives and peppercini’s.

Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!

Then there the salad dressing! It’s so easy to whip up and so flavorful. It pairs perfectly with the salad. You could have this salad as a side or grill up some chicken and have it as your main. Either way you need to give this salad a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!

Servings: 6 -8

Italian Antipasto Salad

Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Italian Antipasto Salad ~ loaded with all sorts of flavorful vegetables then topped with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish or grill some chicken, steak or seafood and have it as a main!
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Ingredients

Salad:

  • 1/2 head romaine lettuce, chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1/2 head red leaf lettuce, chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, chopped into bite size pieces (I didn't use iceberg. I used extra of the other lettuces)
  • 1 cup canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and patted dry, (optional)
  • 8 ounces pepperoni pieces
  • 3  ounces Provolone, cubed
  • 1/2 cup black olives
  • 3-4 pepperonchinis
  • 1/3 cup cucumbers, optional
  • cherry tomatoes, 6-10 or as much as you'd like, cut in half lengthwise
  • salt & pepper to your liking

Red Wine Vinaigrette:

  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Add lettuces to a large serving bowl. Top with garbanzo beans, pepperoni, provolone cheese, black olives, pepperonchinis, cucumbers and tomatoes.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add all red wine vinaigrette ingredients to a salad shaker. Shake to incorporate all ingredients.
  • Toss salad and drizzle with dressing.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!
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