To put some sunshine on your plates, nothing better than an Italian starter! Discover our seven varied recipes for an Italian starter full of flavors. Soon!
Italy rhymes with appetizers, pasta, pizzas, salads, ham, in short everything we love to eat as a starter. Be aware that some recipes can be used as a starter by making them in small quantities. Your plate will be all in color thanks to the vegetables of the south, cold or hot starter you have the choice! Parma ham, carpaccio, mini-pizza, you just have to choose. These Italian specialties are our favorites. Let’s go !
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Carpaccio of bresaola, arugula and parmesan
Plate of bresaola carpaccio. Credit: Istock
For 3 people
Cost: for all scholarships
Ingredients :
– 1 lemon
– 100 g of arugula
– 70 g of parmesan in shavings
-70 g of bresaola (dried beef)
Preparation :
1. Wash the arugula and arrange it on a plate with the bresaola.
2. Add the parmesan shavings then season with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice.
Italian antipasto salad
Assortment of antipasti plates, an Italian specialty. Credit: Istock
For 2 people
Cost: for all scholarships
Ingredients for the dressing sauce:
– 20ml olive oil
– Pitted olives
– Dried tomatoes in oil
– Chopped garlic
– Balsamic vinaigrette
Ingredients for the salad:
– Lettuce leaves
– Dried tomato
– 1 tomato
– Bufala Mozzarella
– Cold cooked eggplant
– Parmesan cheese
– Cold roasted peppers
– Melon
– Salt pepper
Preparation :
1. For the vinaigrette, in a ramekin, mix all the ingredients, adding the garlic and the chopped dried tomatoes. Book cool.
2. On a large plate, arrange the lettuce leaves, add the vinaigrette over the whole salad. Then arrange the tomato slices, the cold peppers and the mozzarella cut into cubes.
3. Add the cold aubergines and the thinly sliced ham. Finally, add the pitted olives.
4. Finish by putting the vinaigrette on all of your salad and enjoy!
Calzone with tomatoes and parma ham
Calzone with tomatoes and parma ham, an Italian appetizer. Credit: Istock
For 3 people
Cost: for all scholarships
Ingredients :
– 1 pizza dough
– 1 tomato
– 3 tbsp of tomato puree
– 3 slices of Parma ham
– Mozzarella
– Provencal herbs
– Salt pepper
Preparation :
1. Preheat the oven to 210°C. Meanwhile, roll out the dough and cut out discs of dough of the same diameter.
2. Then spread the tomato puree on the discs of dough. Cut the tomatoes and the mozzarella into slices then distribute them on each of the discs of pizza dough. Then close the discs by folding one side over the other side. Seal the edges well to avoid any overflow.
3. Bake the mini-calzones for 20 minutes in the oven. Serve hot.
Sicilian Caponata
Plate of Sicilian caponata. Credit: Istock
For 2 people
Cost: for all scholarships
Ingredients :
– 1 eggplant
– 1 onion
– 2 tomatoes
– Pitted black and green olives
– Capers in vinegar
– Wine vinegar
– Olive oil
– Salt pepper
Preparation :
1. Wash and dry all vegetables. Chop the olives, cut the vegetables into small dice and slice the onion.
2. Fry the diced aubergines in olive oil over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
3. Add onion and tomatoes over low heat for 5 minutes until melted.
4. Finally, add the eggplant cubes to the preparation, the chopped olives, the drained capers and the wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and cook for another 5 minutes over low heat.
5. Cool in the refrigerator before serving.
6. Good tasting of this Sicilian specialty!
Sicilian arancini
Arancini, a 100% Italian starter! Credit: Istock
For 3 people
Cost: for all scholarships
Ingredients :
– 225g rice for risotto
– Flour
– Oil
– 40 g cooked peas
– 40 g raw ham
– 40 g Buffalo mozzarella
– 1 egg
– Breadcrumbs
– Salt
Preparation :
1. Cut the mozzarella and raw ham into small cubes. Add the cooked peas and mix everything together.
2. Make rice balls of equal size and make a hole in each of them. Fill them with mozzarella, ham and peas. Then close the rice balls.
3. Roll them in flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Then fry in hot oil.
4. Drain the arancini
Sicilian Sfincione
Square of sfincione, mini-pizza style. Credit: Istock
For 4 people
Cost: for all scholarships
Ingredients :
– 150 g of pizza dough
– 1 yellow onion
– 200 g crushed tomatoes
– Pitted black olives
– Olive oil
– Dried oregano
– Salt pepper
Preparation :
1. In a skillet, sweat the onions and crushed tomatoes with a little water.
2. Season everything with salt and pepper. Add the dried oregano to the mixture and simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. The sauce should be thick.
3. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
4. Divide the pizza dough into equal squares and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Spread the squares of pizza dough with tomato and black olives cut into small pieces.
6. Add the preparation on the squares of pizzas then olive oil.
7. Bake your mini-pizzas for about 15 minutes.
Tip: This starter can also be a good idea for an Italian aperitif!
Italian veal carpaccio
Plate of veal carpaccio. Credit: Istock
For 2 people
Cost: for all scholarships
Ingredients :
– 50 g of parmesan shavings
– ½ lemon
– Fresh basilic
– 250 g of veal pastry
– Flaked almonds
– Olive oil
– Salt pepper
Preparation :
1. Brush the meat with olive oil, salt and pepper. Then wrap it in cling film and refrigerate for an hour.
2. Cut the veal in thin slices and arrange them on a plate.
3. Add the parmesan shavings and sprinkle with lemon. Then reserve the carpaccio in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the cold plate with slivered almonds and serve chilled.
And for dessert, discover our Italian dessert ideas!