New Orleans-Style Muffuletta Sandwich
A hearty and iconic sandwich from New Orleans, featuring layers of Italian cured meats, cheeses, and a zesty olive salad piled high on a round Sicilian sesame bread. Perfect for picnics or a casual gathering.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 large round loaf Muffuletta bread(about 10 inches in diameter)
- 0.5 lb Genoa salami(thinly sliced)
- 0.5 lb Capicola(thinly sliced)
- 0.5 lb Mortadella(thinly sliced)
- 0.5 lb Provolone cheese(thinly sliced)
- 0.5 lb Swiss cheese(thinly sliced)
- 2 cups Green olives(pitted, roughly chopped)
- 1 cup Giardiniera(mixed pickled vegetables, roughly chopped)
- 0.25 cup Red onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 0.25 cup Red wine vinegar
- 0.25 cup Olive oil
- 1 tsp Dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the olive salad: In a medium bowl, combine the chopped green olives, giardiniera, red onion, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and black pepper. Stir well to combine and let it sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- 2
Slice the muffuletta bread horizontally. If desired, lightly toast the cut sides of the bread under a broiler for a minute or two.
💡 Tip: Be careful not to burn the bread. - 3
Spread a generous amount of the olive salad on the bottom half of the bread.
- 4
Layer the meats and cheeses on top of the olive salad. Start with a layer of provolone, then salami, mortadella, capicola, and finally the Swiss cheese. Ensure even distribution.
💡 Tip: Layering helps keep the sandwich from becoming too messy. - 5
Spread another layer of olive salad on the cut side of the top half of the bread.
- 6
Place the top half of the bread onto the sandwich. Press down firmly.
💡 Tip: You can wrap the sandwich tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place a weight on top for at least 30 minutes to help compress the layers. - 7
To serve, slice the muffuletta into wedges using a serrated knife.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The olive salad is key to a good muffuletta. Don't skimp on it!
- ✓Allowing the sandwich to sit and meld flavors for at least 30 minutes (or even longer) is highly recommended.
- ✓If you can't find muffuletta bread, a large, round Italian loaf will work as a substitute.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a layer of roasted red peppers for sweetness.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meats and increase the amount of cheese and vegetables.
- Some variations include a smear of mayonnaise or mustard on the bread, though this is not traditional.