Classic Italian Muffuletta Sandwich (Print-Friendly Format)
Layers of Italian meats, cheese, and vibrant olive salad meet in this satisfying muffuletta sandwich.
# Required Ingredients:
→ Olive Salad
01 -
240 ml green olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
02 -
240 ml black olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
03 -
120 ml giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables), drained and coarsely chopped
04 -
60 ml roasted red peppers, chopped
05 -
60 ml capers, drained
06 -
120 ml celery, finely chopped
07 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
08 -
120 ml extra virgin olive oil
09 -
60 ml red wine vinegar
10 -
1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 -
0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 -
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Sandwich Assembly
13 -
1 large round Italian sesame seed bread loaf (approximately 25 cm diameter)
14 -
115 g thinly sliced mortadella
15 -
115 g thinly sliced salami
16 -
115 g thinly sliced capicola
17 -
115 g thinly sliced provolone cheese
18 -
115 g thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
# How to Make It:
01 -
Combine green olives, black olives, giardiniera, roasted red peppers, capers, celery, and garlic in a large mixing bowl. Add extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, and season with freshly ground black pepper. Stir thoroughly to blend. Cover and refrigerate for at least 60 minutes, ideally overnight, to intensify flavor.
02 -
Slice the round bread loaf horizontally. If the loaf is especially thick, hollow out some interior crumb to create space for filling.
03 -
Spread half of the olive salad evenly over the bottom half of the loaf. Layer the mortadella, salami, capicola, provolone, and mozzarella in an even sequence atop the salad. Distribute the remaining olive salad over the meats and cheeses.
04 -
Cover with the top bread half. Press down gently but firmly to compact the layers. Wrap the entire sandwich tightly in plastic wrap.
05 -
Place the wrapped sandwich beneath a heavy pan or weighted object and allow it to press for a minimum of 30 minutes. This ensures the layers bind and the flavors integrate.
06 -
Unwrap and transfer to a cutting board. Slice into portions using a sharp knife and serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 24 hours for deeper flavor.
# Additional Information:
01 -
Prepare the olive salad a day in advance to enhance complexity.
02 -
A heavy skillet or alternative weighted object will press the sandwich thoroughly.
03 -
Authentic Italian sesame bread is preferred, but a robust round loaf also works.