What kind of appetizer to serve before lasagna ?

Question

I am organizaing lasagna dinner , need help with appetizer idea.
How about olives and parmezan cubes?
I will serve garlic bread with salad and lasagna, so the appetizer can not be bread .
Thank you

Answer 1

You can still have bread even though you are serving it with dinner....

You could set out fat slices of warm Italian bread and the little plates with olive oil and fresh cracked pepper. You dip the bread in the olive oil. It's really good.

They do this at Macaroni Grille and a lot of Italian restaurants before your meal comes.

p.s. I know what you mean lady bella... I hate it when people do that when you're just suggesting stuff. I lovvved your idea, btw. I love stuffed mushrooms. Here's a thumbs up for ya.

Answer 2

Italian Appetizer Ideas

Answer 3

I wouldn't serve cheeze cubes as an appetizer, I would serve a cheese and fruit plate as the dessert with crackers and melba toast rounds. That is a delightful end to the meal.

Appetizer could be tiny meatballs in a sauce or this is a great veggie appetizer

half green pepper diced
half red pepper diced
half yello pepper diced
cucumber diced


Take a very thing pizza dough and bake according to directions. Cool and spread with veggie flavored cream cheese. Sprinkle the diced veggies over the top of the cream cheese and serve sliced cold. Very yummy and easy to make and light on the tummy.

Answer 4

Stuffed Mushrooms? Those are super good! I like the ones that Red Lobster makes.
The Olives and Parmezan cubes sound good also. You can create a pizza/veggie melt and slice it up like a pizza and serve that. You can put olives, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper with the mazzarella cheese melted on top of a pizza crust. A super thin crust so that it doesn't fill you up so much before dinner.
You can make some potato patties with manchego cheese melted. Or mazzarella cheese.
Since you're making Italian food, it's hard to come up with something other than pasta and bread. :-) I see why you ask Y/A.
Oh here is a link for you that lists all kinds of Italian Appetizers, I like the Turkey stuffed Meatball idea...Mmmmm I'm getting hungry now. YUM-O!
http://italian.betterrecipes.com/italianappetizers.html

Answer 5

I'd go for an antipasto of cured meats and stuffed olives, on a "grab your won from the middle of the table" basis. Don't forget the italians eat a lot of courses but each course is small - you do not need to do massive platefuls of lasagne for everyone or they'll just bloat out on pasta and fart all night.
Breadsticks are naff - avoid at all costs, if you are serving cubed cheese go for a gran padano and shave it with a potato peeler, its milder and nuttier than parmesan and won't taint people's tastes for the main.
Wine - valpolicella, of course.

Answer 6

We have had lasagna often and have served an antipasto instead of a salad with the dinner. The antipasto starts with a bed of lettuce,cut up cold meats like salami prociutto, peppered ham, swiss and provolone cheeses, all of which are cut into small piecesand spread over the lettuce. Then add artichoke hearts,Mancini roasted peppers,straw and button mushrooms,black olives,ceci beans, topped with sliced hard boiled eggsand there you have it.

Answer 7

hi....I wish I was coming to your dinner. I am from an Italian family and I cook stuff like this all the time. I suggest serving a spumoni ice cream with a mini biscotti or some type of simple Italian cookie that you can purchase. After all the work you have done take it easy on dessert. And something light like that is also very refreshing to end on.

Answer 8

lasagna is very heavy and sweet with the tomato sauce so you want to definitely balance it out.

I dont think serving cheese is a good idea because there is so much cheese in the lasagna already.

Olives are great though....

Here are some ideas:
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Here is an olive/artichoke appetizer... still has cheese in it... ( you could just go light on the cheese aspect of the dish.)
Artichoke, Cheese and Olive Antipasto
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Artichoke-Cheese-and-Olive-Antipasto/Detail.aspx

Marinated Olives
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Marinated-Olives/Detail.aspx

Cucumber and Olive Appetizers
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cucumber-and-olive-appetizers/detail.aspx

Prosciutto Wrapped Artichoke Appetizer Recipe
http://www.recipetips.com/recipe-cards/t--2859/prosciutto-wrapped-artichoke-appetizer.asp

Seafood Cucumber Appetizer Recipe
http://www.recipetips.com/recipe-cards/t--2713/seafood-cucumber-appetizer.asp

Mini Spanakopitas (Greek Spinach Pies) Recipe
http://www.cooking.com/recipes/static/recipe8240.htm

Answer 9

Lasagna is pretty heavy...I would suggest a veggie appetizer of some kind

MARINATED VEGETABLE APPETIZER

3 med. carrots, peeled, sliced diagonally
6 oz. pkg. frozen snow peas, thawed and drained
8 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 lg. cucumber, sliced
1/3 c. Italian low calorie salad dressing
4 tbsp. tarragon vinegar
2 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. dried whole tarragon
1/2 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Cook carrots in a small amount of boiling water 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp and tender. Drain. Combine carrots, snow peas, tomatoes, and cucumber in a large shallow dish. Combine salad dressing, vinegar, water and remaining ingredients in a jar. Cover tightly and shake vigorously. Pour over vegetables, tossing lightly to coat. Cover and chill overnight. Arrange on individual plates to serve. Makes 8 servings.

Answer 10

Italian Horderves