Thanksgiving Antipasta Board

Ok, so this dish may not seem super on brand for Thanksgiving but this is a long time family tradition for me. My mom is Italian and this has been part of her family’s Thanksgiving for longer than I’ve been alive. I took some creative liberties and made it more of a charcuterie board because that’s very on brand for me but, all the flavors I love are there. This appetizer is truly a crowd pleaser! Ever since I started making it for my Thanksgiving all our friends look forward to it. The best part about it, you can build onto it and add anything that you love and create your own tradition with it. I hope it becomes as special to you as it is to me!

Entertaining tips:

1. The only thing you’re actually “making” here is the pepper dip/spread. You can make that up to 5 days ahead of time and just store in the refrigerator. In an airtight container of course ;)

2. Build the board about 30 minutes to 1 hour before your guests arrive. Then your guests can graze all day.

LEFTOVERS?

This is honestly my favorite leftovers. Traditionally, this is more like a salad. I mix the peppers, olives, provolone, and salami all together and it’s served with breadsticks. Since the board is a deconstructed version, if you have leftovers, just combine it all into one container. I wouldn’t combine the soft cheese but definitely the peppers, salami, olives, and provolone! Serve over lettuce, spaghetti squash, or make a sandwich with a nice baguette. I’m drooling thinking about it!

Recipe:serves 4

Ingredients:

12 oz jar of Mancini Fried Peppers with Onions.

*I would normally say use whatever pepper you can find but this one’s important. This gives the antipasto it’s signature flavor. You can probably find them at an Italian market but you can also get them here from amazon.

12 oz jar roasted peppers. Red or red and yellow is perfect

12 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts

4 oz jar peperoncini

6 oz sweet cherry peppers (optional)

8 oz taleggio

1 ball buratta

12 oz sharp provolone

8 oz Genoa salami

Rustic Bakery crackers

Mitica Taralli Classic crackers

Dellalo Thin Breadsticks

Directions:

1. Chop all the peppers and artichokes and combine in a bowl. Mix and let all the flavors get to know each other!

2. Serve the spread in a bowl on your charcuterie board.

3. Add salami, provolone, burrata, taleggio, or any other kind of cheese to the board.

4. Add crackers, breadsticks, olives, hazelnuts, seriously whatever sounds good. Have fun with it.

5. Enjoy!