Quick & Easy Antipasto Salad Recipe
So we all know I can make a mean batch of brownies and have even been known to make a fancy, homemade Crunchwrap Supreme from time to time. But, did you know I also know how to whip up some healthy recipes too!? Crazy, right? It may surprise you guys to find out that I actually eat VERY healthily 90% of the time. Ok, I lied. 75% of the time. Life is all about moderation. I generally try to cook lean, mean, protein and veggie rich meals when we eat at home. Then, live my best life out at restaurants. I rarely pass up a slice of pizza or XL margarita.
Which brings us to my latest recipe… a Quick & Easy Antipasto Salad! Not only does it require zero cooking skills, but it’s packed with Italian flavors and is perfect as an appetizer, side dish or even a meal. Let’s get cookin! Wait… choppin! There’s literally no cooking involved in this recipe!
What Is Antipasto Salad?
So you probably asked yourself… WTF is an antipasto salad? Us Americans usually think that antipasto means something involving pasta. Sometimes that’s the case. Sometimes people add noodles into it and sometimes it’s served before pasta. But the real meaning of the term means “before the meal”. So, it’s basically a “before the meal salad”.
This salad is packed with so many ingredients and flavors that you can totally eat it as a meal though. Just like how you can turn any salad into a meal! It’s all about serving size or adding more ingredients.
Antipasto is basically Italy’s version of hors d’oeuvres. It’s usually a combination of small foods, used to stimulate your taste buds without over filling your stomach. Not over filling is one of the key pieces to the “being healthy puzzle”. Making antipasto the perfect dinner or lunch salad too!
Easy Antipasto Salad Recipe
Antipasto Salad Ingredients List
- 1 head of cauliflower or 1 bag of pre cut cauliflower
- 1 can of artichoke hearts
- 1 can of garbanzo beans
- 1 can of sliced olives (I prefer black olives, but green olives work too)
- 1 can of sliced pepperoncini
- 10 slices of salami (I use a thicker cut sold in the cheese section but deli style also works)
- 1/2 an onion sliced (optional)
- 1 8 oz container of feta cheese
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar (red wine vinegar also works)
- 1/2 tablespoon of dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
- salt & pepper
How To Make It
- Find a large tupperware container. If you don’t have one you can use a large mixing bowl.
- Chop your cauliflower into small, bite sized pieces & throw them into the container.
- Open the cans of artichokes hearts, garbanzo beans, olives & pepperoncini. Carefully drain each container. Then, add all of the ingredients into the container with the cauliflower.
- Slice your salami into bite sized strips and add them to the mixture.
- If you want to add onion, I recommend slicing it into thin strips.
- Add your cheese and mix all of the ingredients together.
- I eyeball my olive oil and vinegar, but I recommend starting with about 1/4 cup and adding a few splashes of vinegar. Taste the mixture to see if you want/need to add more of both/either one.
- Lastly, you’ll add your dried oregano, garlic powder, salt & pepper. If you’re using tupperware, throw the lid on and shake it up. If you’re using a bowl, stir it with a spoon!
Serves
This makes a large batch that could serve as 2 dinner portions, or 4 appetizer portions. It also works really well for meal prep. You can make it and separate it into 4-5 smaller tupperware containers. Then, throw it on top of some chopped romaine lettuce for lunch, or on a cup of cooked pasta for dinner! If you’re looking for more protein, you can even serve it with a chicken breast.
Nutrition
If you’re trying to watch what you eat, you can easily check the nutrition on the back of each can/package and add up all of the calories/macro nutrients. Then, divide that number by the number of servings you’re making it into. If you’re doing a low calorie, keto or paleo diet, you can leave out ingredients and add other vegetables like tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes or avocado. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you can opt to leave out the cheese or salami. It’s great on it’s own, or you can add a substitute!
QUICK & EASY ANTIPASTO RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower chopped
- 15 oz artichoke hearts
- 15 oz garbanzo beans
- 8 oz slicedĀ pepperoncini
- 10 slices salami chopped
- 1/2 red onion sliced
- 8 oz feta cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tbs Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 tbs dried oregano
- 1/2 tbs garlic powder
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Store in a large airtight container in the refrigerator.
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