Muffuletta Sandwich

Ever tried fitting an entire Italian deli between two slices of bread? That’s basically what happened when I made my first muffuletta at 2AM after watching way too many New Orleans food videos. My cutting board wasn’t even big enough for this monster!

Listen, this isn’t just a sandwich – it’s an EVENT. When I finally sliced into it after the 2-hour press (longest wait of my life), the layers were so perfect it actually made me gasp. Worth. Every. Second.

Ingredients

For the olive salad:

• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives
• 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
• 2/3 cup Giardiniera
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste

For the sandwich:

• 1 large Muffuletta bread
• 1/2 pound each: Genoa salami, ham, provolone, fresh mozzarella
• 1/4 pound each: mortadella, soppressata
• 1/2 pound Prosciutto di Parma

Steps

1. Make the garlic oil: Combine olive oil and minced garlic in a bowl. Let it hang out for 15 minutes minimum.
2. Prep the olive mix: Pulse olives, giardiniera, shallot, and oregano in food processor until chunky but not paste-like. Mix with half the garlic oil and vinegar in a bowl.
3. Toast the bread: Split and brush with remaining garlic oil. Toast cut-sides in a skillet until golden (about 2 mins per side).
4. Layer like you mean it: Bottom bread → half olive mix → salami → ham → provolone → mozzarella → mortadella → prosciutto → soppressata → remaining olive mix → top bread.
5. The press: Wrap tight in plastic 2-3 times. Press under something heavy for 1 hour, flip, press another hour.

Pro Tips

• Prep ahead: Olive salad gets better after 24 hours in the fridge
• Room temp meats: Pull them from the fridge 30 mins before assembly
• Even slicing: Use a serrated knife and gentle sawing motion

Smart Swaps

• No muffuletta bread? Use a round sourdough loaf
• Replace giardiniera with chopped pickled vegetables
• Swap any meats for what you can find – just keep the ratios similar