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Italian Muffuletta Sandwich

Italian Muffuletta Sandwich
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The Italian Muffuletta Sandwich is a hearty and flavorful sandwich originating from New Orleans’ Italian immigrant community. It features layers of savory cured meats, creamy cheeses, and a tangy, olive-studded salad that creates a vibrant burst of flavor in every bite. Perfect for sharing or satisfying a filling meal, this sandwich blends tradition and bold taste into a delicious culinary icon.

Ingredients

Scale

Muffuletta Bread

  • 1 round muffuletta loaf, sesame-crusted

Olive Salad

  • 1 cup green olives, finely chopped
  • 1 cup black olives, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup giardiniera vegetables, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as parsley), chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar (optional)

Cured Meats

  • 4 ounces salami, sliced
  • 4 ounces ham, sliced
  • 4 ounces mortadella, sliced

Cheeses

  • 4 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
  • 4 ounces Swiss cheese, sliced

Additional

  • Olive oil, for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Preparing the Olive Salad: Start by finely chopping green and black olives, giardiniera vegetables, capers, and fresh herbs. Mix all ingredients with olive oil and a splash of vinegar to create the classic tangy and flavorful olive salad.
  2. Slicing the Bread: Slice the muffuletta loaf horizontally into two even halves, taking care not to crush the soft, airy interior as it will hold the sandwich fillings.
  3. Layering the Meats and Cheeses: On the bottom half of the bread, layer alternating slices of salami, ham, and mortadella. Follow by adding slices of provolone and Swiss cheese to create a savory and creamy base.
  4. Adding the Olive Salad: Generously spread the prepared olive salad evenly over the cheese layers, ensuring every bite has the signature briny zest.
  5. Assembling and Pressing: Replace the top half of the bread, press firmly but gently to meld all ingredients together, then wrap tightly in parchment or plastic wrap. Let rest for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to marry.

Notes

  • Use Fresh Bread: Muffuletta bread is ideal, but a dense Italian loaf can be used if unavailable.
  • Let It Rest: Resting helps the olive salad juices soak into the bread, enhancing flavor and moisture.
  • Balance Flavors: Do not skimp on the olive salad as it brings the unique bright flavor.
  • Use Quality Meats and Cheeses: High-quality deli meats and cheeses improve taste significantly.
  • Wrap It Well: Tightly wrapping before resting intensifies flavor melding and makes slicing easier.

Nutrition

Keywords: Muffuletta, Italian sandwich, Olive salad, Salami sandwich, New Orleans sandwich, Italian deli sandwich

Find it online: https://tastebudtrek.com/italian-muffuletta-sandwich/