Funghi – Grilled Mushrooms

Grilled mushrooms in olive oil, ready to serve as antipasto

Viani Funghi are small mushrooms that have been hand-cleaned, lightly grilled, and preserved in a blend of sunflower and olive oil—ready for your antipasto platter, to accompany cold meats, or to use in salads.

The Funghi, grilled mushrooms from the Antonio Viani collection, are small mushrooms that are hand-cleaned, briefly grilled, and then preserved in oil. Grilling intensifies their delicate, natural flavor before they are packed into 180g jars, ready for immediate consumption—no cooking, no preparation required; simply open and serve.

First grilled, then preserved

For these Funghi, small mushrooms are first cleaned by hand to remove any traces of soil, then grilled quickly over high heat. Grilling provides a light roasted note while concentrating the mushroom's natural flavor before they are placed in a blend of sunflower oil and Italian olive oil. This dual-oil blend keeps the mushrooms tender without making them feel too heavy.

We deliberately use small caps with a diameter between 2 cm and 4 cm—large enough to provide a satisfying bite, yet small enough to place whole on an antipasto platter or fork without needing to be cut. Larger mushrooms would lose too much moisture during grilling and dry out faster than the small, firm caps Viani specifically selects for this purpose.

Tender, mild, and lightly roasted

Unlike raw pickled mushrooms, the grilling process gives these Funghi a subtle roasted note that enhances the mild mushroom flavor rather than overpowering it. They remain pleasantly tender to the bite, not soggy, with a slightly oily coating that provides richness on the tongue. The result is an antipasto that is at once tender, mild, and delicately smoky—closer to fresh-off-the-grill than the classic pickled mushrooms from a jar.

This roasted note is also why the Funghi pair so well with bolder accompaniments: a squeeze of lemon or some freshly chopped parsley brings out the mild sweetness of the mushrooms even more clearly, without masking the smoky aroma or upsetting the balance.

On the antipasto platter or in a salad

The Funghi serve as a perfect mild counterpoint on any antipasto platter, alongside pickled red onions, salami, and a few slices of young cheese. They are equally well-suited to cold roasts, a salad with arugula and Parmesan, or chopped into a cream sauce for pasta.

They also work well with egg dishes like a frittata—simply fold in the mushrooms for a mild, lightly roasted mushroom flavor with no extra effort. If you like, serve them lukewarm, straight from the jar, with a little freshly ground pepper and a piece of crusty white bread to soak up the oil.

Antonio Viani and the Italian antipasti range

Antonio Viani’s range has long included ready-to-serve antipasti alongside oils, vinegars, and pasta, in keeping with the company's commitment to providing products that require no further preparation before reaching the table. They are selected and imported by Antonio Viani.

You can find more antipasti from this range in our Antipasti & Preserves overview, and the entire Italian selection in our Antonio Viani Imports collection. For the perfect platter, pair them with a spicy salami—together, they make a complete antipasto spread in just a few minutes, without ever turning on the stove.