Julies Pretty Antipasto Salad Recipes

ANTIPASTO SALAD

Steps:

• DRESSING: Click on "Italian Dressing" in the recipe ingredients to be taken to the recipe. Italian Dressing can be made ahead of time and stored for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
• CROUTONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray or use a nonstick mat. Add cubed bread to the baking sheet and drizzled with olive oil then sprinkle with spices; toss until evenly coated. Spread bread into an even layer and bake for approximately 12-15 minutes or until golden.
• SALAD: Add lettuce to a large bowl followed by the rest of the salad ingredients. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing and toss to combine OR dress individual plates if expecting leftovers. Serve immediately. (You will probably not use all of the dressing.)

JULIA'S AMERICAN-STYLE POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and slice each one lengthwise in half, or in quarters if very large; then cut crosswise into half-round or quarter-round slices, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Put the slices in a saucepan with water just to cover and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt per quart of water. Heat to a simmer, and cook the potatoes for 5 to 6 minutes, or until just cooked through. It is essential that they be just cooked through. Bite into a slice or two to be very sure. Immediately remove from the heat and drain the potatoes into a colander, but save a cup of the cooking liquid for dressing the potatoes. Transfer bowl. Stir the cider vinegar with 1/3 cup of the potato water or chicken stock and drizzle this over the potato pieces, turning them gently to distribute it evenly. Let sit 10 minutes to absorb the liquid.
• Add the prepared onion, celery, bacon, pickle, hard-boiled eggs, and chives, and season carefully, to taste. Top with 2/3 cup of mayonnaise (or a mix of mayonnaise and a bit of sour cream) and, with a large rubber spatula, gently fold everything together until well blended. Taste the salad and add more salt, pepper, or mayonnaise as needed.
• Cover the salad and set aside in the refrigerator for at least an hour or so before serving. If it is refrigerated longer, let it come back to room temperature before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning again.
• To serve, line a bowl or a platter with red-leaf lettuce or other greens, and mound the salad on top. Decorate at the last moment, if you wish, with any or all of the optional garnishes.

JULIE'S PRETTY ANTIPASTO SALAD

Steps:

• I make this in a large shallow pasta bowl with sloping sides so I can put the rolled meats and cheese all around the edge. My bowl is about 18" wide and 4" deep. If you don't have such a bowl, you'll have to arrange the meats and cheese differently.
• NOTE: I can't get prepackaged sliced provolone to roll without cracking, so I buy both the meats and the provolone fresh from the deli and have them sliced fairly thin. You want to end up with the same amount of slices for the mortadella and the provolone, so the exact ounces will vary.
• Dump the lettuce into the bowl and sprinkle the garbanzo beans over the top. Sprinkle with a dash of garlic salt and fresh ground pepper and top with tomatoes.
• Slice the provolone and mortadella in half, then roll each piece tightly, placing them around the salad at the edge of the bowl, alternating meat and cheese, cut side down. Tuck them under the salad just a bit so they stay rolled.
• Fold each slice of salami in half, then in half again and place it into the bowl of salad so that they look like rosettes. Cover tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Feel free to add additional ingredients, I kept the recipe simple to stay true to my childhood memories.

JULIE'S CRUNCHY POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain, cool, and cut potatoes into bite-size pieces.
• Combine celery, green onion, carrots, bell peppers, and olives, in a large bowl. Stir mashed eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, salad seasoning mix, and dill seasoning in another bowl; season with salt and pepper. Stir egg mixture and potatoes into vegetable mixture. Add pickle juice and mix until creamy.

JULIA'S AMERICAN-STYLE POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and slice each one lengthwise in half, or in quarters if very large; then cut crosswise into half-round or quarter-round slices, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Put the slices in a saucepan with water just to cover and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt per quart of water. Heat to a simmer, and cook the potatoes for 5 to 6 minutes, or until just cooked through. It is essential that they be just cooked through. Bite into a slice or two to be very sure. Immediately remove from the heat and drain the potatoes into a colander, but save a cup of the cooking liquid for dressing the potatoes. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Stir the cider vinegar with ⅓ cup of the potato water or chicken stock and drizzle this over the potato pieces, turning them gently to distribute it evenly. Let sit 10 minutes to absorb the liquid.
• Add the prepared onion, celery, bacon, pickle, hard-boiled eggs, and chives, and season carefully to taste. Top with ⅔ cup of mayonnaise (or a mix of mayonnaise and a bit of sour cream) and, with a large rubber spatula, gently fold everything together until well blended. Taste the salad and add more salt, pepper, or mayonnaise as needed.
• Cover the salad and set aside in the refrigerator for at least an hour or so before serving. If it is refrigerated longer, let it come back to room temperature before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning again.
• To serve, line a bowl or a platter with red-leaf lettuce or other greens, and mound the salad on top. Decorate at the last moment, if you wish, with any or all of the optional garnishes.