Because the antipasto (literally dish before the meal) is a dish that needs to be put on the table with a minimum of delay to satisfy the needs of the hungry diner, the ingredients of the antipasto tend to be the foods which are instantly available, requiring no or the minimum of preparation and/or cooking.
Preserved foods are therefore ideal for the purpose, as they can be extracted, plated and served at great speed. For the meat eater, the unbelievable array of different kinds of ham, salame, coppa, bresaola and even cured turkey offer an explosion of different tastes. Tuna, anchovies and seafood are often preserved either in brine or oil. The vegetable kingdom is a cornucopia of delights, the best often comprising vegetables cooked in wine and vinegar and preserved in oil. Peppers, mushrooms, dried tomatoes, gherkins, aubergines, zucchine, artichokes and such are the most popular vegetables to receive such treatment. | 
Mouth watering bruschetta |
