Help! I need an Italian appetizer, desert or side suggestion.?

Question

I'm attending a dinner party with an Italian theme. They will provide the pastas but everyone attending will bring the rest. Does anyone have any ideas and recipes?
Thanks for any suggestions.

Answer 1

how about a simple appetizer....
fresh bocconcini cheese is little balls of very fresh mozzarella style cheese....
cut the cheese in slices...top with a slice of ROMA tomato, a bit of salt then a chiffonade (thin sliced) of basil...a bit of REALLY good olive oil on top, just drizzled
freshly ground black pepper to top off....and serve a couple on each plate with good fresh bread cut thin

also, how about the same good fresh bread, cut a bit thicker, or torn into pieces...served beside a plate on which olive oil is poured onto, just enough to cover the small plate bottom.....add into the center (carefully) some good balsamic vinegar...the two will not mix ...DON"T MIX THEM...
a nice dip..
to go with that, roast garlic heads...the whole things....in loose tin foil for about 30 min at 350. serve hot on the side of the oil/vinegar plate...use the now sweet garlic as a butter on the bread..it's DELICIOUS...

enjoy your party !!
and don't forget a good wine....try wolfblass yellow label with this...or yellowtail merlot....they both go well with all this.

Answer 2

Try serving bruschetta on little slices of toasted baguette. Also, you could serve some pesto sauce with that as well, and they can choose which they'd like on their bread. Stuffed mushrooms is another great appetizer.

You could try making meatballs, and serving those with some marinara sauce on the side for dipping as well.

Another hit is bringing a bowl of olives. Kalamata olives are great. The only thing is to bring an extra dish so they can put the seeds in it, because most kalamata olives are not seeded. They come in dark green and brown. Don't buy the canned or jarred olives, but get the fresh ones you'll see by the deli part of the grocery store.

Also, an assortment of cheeses will help as well. Wine is another great addition.

I hope this helped, and good luck with the dinner party!

Answer 3

How fun! Here are some ideas:

1. Green salad with romaine, chick peas, kidney beans, tomatos, cucumber, carrots, celery, radishes, shaved parmesan and Italian dressing.
2. "Mock" caesar salad with romaine, shaved parmesan, and a creamy Italian Vinagrette
3. Antipasti can be anything from a traditional platter of cured meats, cheese, and olives to tortellini with a marinara. Since you will be having pasta, consider having small platters of sopressata, fennel salami, provolone, marinated artichoke hearts and mushrooms, and an olive mix. Serve with thin slices of baguette, brushed with olive oil and garlic and toasted.
4. Italian Cream Cake: Make this layer cake using your favorite cake mix or white cake recipe. Cut the layers in half and brush with rum. Make a vanilla custard (home made is best) using eggs and whole milk and good vanilla. Place custard between layers and dust top layer with powdered sugar.
5. Italian Green Beans might be a good side dish. Take fresh green beans and steam them until they are crisp tender. Saute pancetta and minced garlic until done. For an added flavor, take 1 can of diced roma tomatos, drained and add to the pancetta. Simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper and toss with the green beans. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Bring a couple of good bottles of wine, such as Nocetto Sangeovese or Chianti and enjoy!

Answer 4

Bruchetta! I have a very easy recipe that I came up with on my own. You will need:

-French Baguette
-Fresh Roma Tomatoes (I use about 1-1.25 lbs. per loaf)
-Newmans Light Basalmic Vinaigrette Dressing (1/2 bottle per 1-1.25 lbs. of tomatoes)
-Basil (I don't even use fresh basil)
-Butter
-Garlic Powder


1. To make the bread for the Bruchetta, slice the baguettes.
2. Melt butter in microwave with a little bit of garlic powder and spread on the bread slices.
3. Bake on cookie sheet until golden brown. ( I usually set oven to 375 or so)
4. Cut up Roma tomatoes.
5. Mix in bowl with Newmans Basalmic Vinaigrette dressing and add some basil. (I usually refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, I have even kept it overnight and it is fine.)
6. You can serve on a platter with the tomato mixture separate from the bread so that the bread doesn't get soggy, or you can scoop the tomato mixture on the breadh ahead of time.

Your friends will love it.

Goodluck!

Answer 5

I agree with the bruschetta suggestion:

Dice some roma tomatoes, add some garlic, chop some fresh basil, salt, pepper and a little good extra virgin olive oil.

Top onto some good toasted or grilled crusty bread like a REAL ciabatta.

(BTW, make sure you pronounce it like an Italian:
"broo-SKEH-tah" )

Answer 6

thats my favorite appetiser!
symple, easy, cheap and fresh

1. stuffed celery
get some celery sticks, wash them
fill them with some creamy italian gorgonzola cheese
top it with walnuts

2. bruschetta
get some ciabatta bread, cut in medium thick slices and oven roast them, dont burn it!!!
once out of the oven rub them with some fresh garlic cloves
in a bowl mix together
diced tomatoes (cherry tomatoes are always the best ones)
mixed herbs, like origano, basil, parsley...
touch of chilly, salt and pepper
extra vergin olive oil

top the bread slices with it

that's a proper italian job!

Answer 7

Bruschetta!!! Or simply good bread with some good olive oil mixed with herbs and spices. Dip the bread into the oil. Yummy! Simple and quick.

Answer 8

appetizers: fried ravioli, an antipasto platter
mozzarella sticks, marinated mushrooms

sides: sauteed broccoli rabe, meatballs, sausage

dessert: cannolis, canoli cake, tiaramisu,
spigatelli *not sure on the spelling there..it's a seashell shaped puff pastry willed with ricotta and sprinkled w/ powdered sugar*

Answer 9

2 large green peppers
4 large carrots
2 cans pitted black olives
1 (16 ounce) jar broken green olives
2 (12 ounce) jars pickling onions
2 (4 ounce) cans pimientos
1 (48 ounce) jar sweet pickles
1 large cauliflower
8 ounces olive oil
5 cloves garlic, smashed
2 (15 ounce) bottles ketchup
1 (15 ounce) bottle hot ketchup
1 cup red wine
2 (5 1/2 ounce) cans tomato paste
1 tablespoon oregano
2 (14 ounce) cans artichokes
2 (10 ounce) cans mushroom pieces
2 cans anchovies, chopped
3 (7 ounce) cans solid tuna


Chop green peppers, cut carrots into julienne strips.
Chop ripe olives, green olives, pickled onions, pimento, sweet pickle and set aside.
Break cauliflower into bite sized pieces.
Put 2 oz of olive oil into frying pan and add 2 cloves garlic, add cauliflower and saute.
Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large pot add remaining olive oil and saute the remaining 3 cloves of garlic, add ketchup, wine, tomato paste and oregano.
Add chopped vegetables, pickles, olives, artichokes, pimento, cauliflower and mushrooms.
Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add anchovies and tuna to mixture and bring to a boil, stirring constantly to prevent sticking.
Serve for use immediately, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks, place in containers for freezing or place immediately in hot sterilized jars.

Answer 10

I would personally go to a bakery and get a tirimisu, or some canolis! Yummy and definately italian