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The salad’s viral fame also sparked a wave of recipe requests. Nicole eventually posted a tutorial, showing how she assembled the dish with ingredients from her garden and pantry. The video was met with enthusiasm, and some TikTokers even declared antipasto salad the official dish of July 4th.
What Is Antipasto, Anyway?
The term antipasto comes from the Latin ante (before) and pasto (meal), meaning “before the meal.” In traditional Italian cuisine, antipasto is the first course of a formal meal, designed to stimulate the appetite. It typically includes cured meats, cheeses, olives, marinated vegetables, and seafood, arranged on a platter for communal sharing.
Antipasto has ancient roots in Roman banquets, where small dishes called gustatio were served before the main course. Over centuries, the tradition evolved across Italy’s regions, with northern antipasti favoring mushrooms and freshwater fish, and southern versions leaning into spicy cured meats and pickled vegetables4. The modern antipasto salad—often served cold and tossed with vinaigrette—is a Italian-American adaptation, blending traditional antipasto ingredients with American salad sensibilities.
Whether you’re serving it at a cookout, a dinner party, or just for yourself, antipasto salad is more than a recipe. It’s a gesture. And thanks to Nicole, it’s now a viral icon.
