Photo: Antipasto Platter Recipe
There is little more impressive than a perfect antipasto platter to start a party, especially when you've made many of the components from scratch.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds assorted sliced meats, such as mortadella, Spanish chorizo, salami
- 8 ounces of each assorted cheese, such as Manchego, blue cheese, aged gouda, fresh mozzarella, or Taleggio
- 6 ounces quince paste, sliced
- Honey-Ricotta Pear, recipe follows
- Wine-Poached Figs, recipe follows
- Warm Mediterranean Olives, recipe follows
Suggested servings:
- Assorted sliced bread, such as French, Italian or sourdough
- Assorted crackers
- Assorted dried fruit, such as apricots or cranberries
- Assorted toasted nuts, such as almonds or pistachios
- Assorted fresh fruits, such as grapes or sliced green apples
Directions
1. Assemble the meats and cheeses on a large cutting board or flat platter to come to room temperature at least 30 minutes before serving.
2. Place cheese knives next to each kind of cheese, small forks for the meats, and a small bowl for anything like olive pits or used toothpicks.
3. If time permits, serve with at least one simple homemade item like: Honey Ricotta Pears, Wine-Poached Figs, or Warm Mediterranean Olives.
4. Place the bread and crackers in a basket on the side or directly on the board. Arrange the fruits and nuts on the board or in small decorative bowls. Serve with red and white wine.
Honey-Ricotta Pear:
- 1 ripe Anjou or Bosc pear
- 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- Honey, for drizzling
- 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts
1. Halve and core the pear, then cut into slices, leaving the stem-end intact and not cutting through to separate the slices. Squeeze the lemon juice over the cut side of the pear halves.
2. Season the ricotta with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then place in 2 mounds on a plate. Top the ricotta mounds with the sliced pear halves, gently fanning out the slices. Drizzle the pears with honey and sprinkle with the pine nuts.
Wine-Poached Figs:
- 8 ounces dried mission figs
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- Cheese and sliced bread, for serving
Trim and halve the figs, place in a saucepan with the wine, sugar, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the wine is reduced by half and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the thyme sprigs. Serve on top of an assertive cheese, such as blue, Taleggio, or a triple cream, spread over the bread slices.
Warm Mediterranean Olives:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 large shallot, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 strip orange peel (use a vegetable peeler)
- 2 cups mixed brined olives, drained
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, vinegar, cinnamon stick, orange peel, and olives. Season with salt and pepper.
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By nhclong
on January 26, 2013
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These wine-poached figs are scrumptious!
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