The Classic Italian Muffuletta Sandwich
The Classic Italian Muffuletta Sandwich is a flavorful Italian-American creation, layered with a tangy olive salad, savory Italian meats, and creamy cheeses. This hearty sandwich is perfect for picnics, casual lunches, or any gathering, offering a bold and satisfying combination of textures and flavors.
- Prep Time: 15min
- Cook Time: 1 hour or overnight
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (if refrigerating for 1 hour)
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Sandwich, Italian-American
- Method: Assembling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
For the Olive Salad:
- 1 cup green olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
- 1 cup black olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables), drained and coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
- 1/4 cup capers, drained
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Sandwich:
- 1 large round Italian sesame seed bread (about 10 inches in diameter)
- 4 oz thinly sliced mortadella
- 4 oz thinly sliced salami
- 4 oz thinly sliced capicola
- 4 oz thinly sliced provolone cheese
- 4 oz thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- repare the Olive Salad: In a large bowl, combine green olives, black olives, giardiniera, roasted red peppers, capers, celery, and garlic. Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best flavor.
- Assemble the Sandwich: Slice the round bread horizontally and scoop out some of the inner crumb. Spread half of the olive salad on the bottom half of the bread, then layer with mortadella, salami, capicola, provolone, and mozzarella. Top with the remaining olive salad and cover with the top half of the bread.
- Press the Sandwich: Wrap the sandwich tightly in plastic wrap and press with a heavy skillet for at least 30 minutes.
- Slice and Serve: Unwrap the sandwich, slice into wedges, and serve. For best results, serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Notes
- Vegetarian Version: Replace the meats with grilled vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers for a vegetarian option.
- Spicy Kick: Add pepperoncini or hot sauce to the olive salad for an extra heat boost.
- Cheese Variations: Try sharp cheddar or brie for a new flavor twist
