Antipasto Salad with Bocconcini and Green-Olive Tapenade

(2,821)

In 2018, Food & Wine named this recipe one of our 40 best: Nancy Silverton, the cofounder of Campanile and La Brea Bakery — for which she was named a F&W Best New Chef in 1990 — and co-owner of Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles, is famous for her baking, but she's also an expert of Italian flavors. Case in point: this smart and delicious play on a classic antipasto plate. Shredded iceberg lettuce serves as the crunchy base for a salad made with creamy bocconcini (mozzarella balls), Genoa salami, spicy-tangy pepperoncini, and green olives. It's quick to prepare and hits all of the right notes.

Total Time:
25 mins
Yield:
8

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons green-olive tapenade from a jar

  • 1/4 cup pepperoncini — stemmed, seeded and finely chopped

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 1 1/2 cups bocconcini (mozzarella balls) (about 9 ounces)

  • 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

  • 4 teaspoons red wine vinegar

  • 4 teaspoons minced garlic

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 small head of iceberg lettuce, halved, cored and finely shredded (4 cups)

  • 6 ounces thinly sliced Genoa salami, cut into thin strips (1 1/2 cups)

  • 6 small basil leaves

  • 1/2 cup green olives, such as Picholine

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, mix the green-olive tapenade with the peperoncini and 1/4 cup of the oil. Add the bocconcini and toss.

  2. In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice with the vinegar, garlic and oregano. Whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil and season the dressing with salt and pepper.

  3. In a bowl, combine the shredded lettuce and salami. Add the marinated bocconcini and half of the dressing and toss well. Transfer the antipasto salad to a large platter. Top with the basil and olives. Drizzle the remaining dressing around the salad and serve.

    Antipasto Salad with Bocconcini and Green-Olive Tapenade
    Nancy Silverton, the cofounder of Campanile and La Brea Bakery (for which she was named a F&W Best New Chef in 1990) and co-owner of Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles, is famous for her baking, but she’s also a master of Italian flavors. Case in point: this smart and delicious play on a classic antipasto plate. Shredded iceberg lettuce serves as the crunchy base for a salad made with creamy mozzarella balls (bocconcini), Genoa salami, peperoncini, and green olives. It’s one of those “Why didn’t I think of that?” dishes that hits all of the right notes. © Greg DuPree

Make Ahead

The recipe can be prepared through step 2 and refrigerated overnight.

Suggested Pairing

Frothy, berry-scented Lambrusco: NV Venturini Baldini Lambrusco dell'Emilia.

Originally appeared: July 2005

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