Antipasto Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

This Antipasto Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette is a delightful take on Italian salads that's perfect any day of the week! It also makes a great keto lunch option thanks to my addition of salami, olives, and greens.

Antipasto Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

Who loves Caprese and Antipasto salad recipe? Me, that's who-and probably also you. Who can eat that much tomato without going over their daily carb allowance? Not me, that's who.

So I had to come up with a different way, which meant adding these ingredients:

• Salami
• Olives
• Greens
• Pesto (only because I was out of basil).

And the end result? Absolute heaven on a fork! This dish truly satisfies my cravings for Caprese and Antipasto Salad without completely blowing my keto lifestyle. And if I can satisfy my foodie cravings while keeping things keto, I see that as an absolute win.

What Is Antipasto?

Antipasto translates literally to "before meal". Antipasto is the first course of an Italian meal and typically includes ingredients such as cured meats, olives, cheeses, etc.

Wait, It's Not AntiPasta Salad?

Don't worry, you're not alone if you've been calling it antipasta. A lot of people do. But hey, it's a Keto salad. I guess it is kind of an ANTI pasta salad too!

Why Is It Called Caprese Salad?

Caprese Salad in Italian is "insalata caprese", which translates literally to "Capri salad". Capri is an island off the west coast of Italy, and the creation of the salad is commonly attributed to this island. Caprese Salad is a type of antipasto salad and includes mozzarella, tomatoes and sweet basil.

How to Make Antipasto Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

• Make the Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the low carb salad ingredients. Prepared pesto, apple cider vinegar, oil, Truvia and ground pepper and set aside.
• Make the Salami Salad: In a large serving bowl, toss together cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, and olives.
• Pour: Dump in the pesto vinaigrette and mix well.
• Serve: Place 1 cup of greens in each plate and top with a fourth of the tomato and cheese mixture.

How Long Will Antipasto Salad Last?

It all depends on how hungry you are, right?

But on a more serious note, it should last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. However, I highly recommend eating Antipasto the day it is made as that is when it tastes best.

Tips and Tricks For Making The Best Antipasto Salad

• You can use any combination of meat for this. Some other great options are diced ham, leftover rotisserie chicken, or leftover turkey.
• If you wanted to make these more festive, you could put the meat, tomatoes, and cheese on skewers, and then pour the dressing on top.
• Plan to eat the salad within a day or two, as over time, the pesto gets a little less tasty and may even taste bitter to some.
• This is a great lunch salad since it tastes good without reheating.
• You can serve this on top of spinach leaves or other salad greens for a heartier meal.

Here are some variations for this dish as well:

• Omit Truvia and ACV and use balsamic vinegar instead
• Omit greens and serve in little appetizer cups for a party

Have Any More Delicious Keto Salad Ideas?

But of course! If you enjoyed this summer salad recipe, you should check out these recipes as well:

• Keto Big Mac Salad- just like your favorite fast food indulgence.
• Salade Niçoise- Salad of cooked vegetables with tuna.
• Keto Spicy Tuna Salad- low carb take on a Spicy Tuna Roll.
• Tabouli- low carb tabouleh with a secret ingredient.
• Chicken Salad Recipe- delightfully creamy and low carb.
• Keto Broccoli Salad- Your favorite summer salad made low carb.

Now you don't have to ruin your diet just to enjoy a great Antipasto Salad! Don't forget to share this recipe with your friends if you enjoyed it!

Originally Published July 14, 2019

Don't forget to check out my other Keto cookbooks.

Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats, and Easy keto in 30 minutes.