Pickley Muffuletta Sub Food

MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the olive oil and minced garlic. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
• Place the olives, giardiniera, shallot and oregano in your food processor. Pulse a few times until coarsely chopped.
• Transfer the olive mixture to a bowl. Add half of the garlic oil and vinegar. Stir until throughly mixed.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. For best results, cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight (or up to a week).
• Split the bread in half and brush each cut side with the remaining garlic oil.
• Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, and toast the bread directly in the pan until crisp and golden brown, about 1-2 minutes per side.
• Place the bottom part of the bread, cut side up, on a cutting board. Spread half of the olive salad, making sure to include the juices.
• Layer all the Genoa salami, followed by all the ham. Then, layer the provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, mortadella, prosciutto and soppressata. Finish with the remaining olive salad.
• Close the sandwich and wrap it tightly - two or three times - with plastic wrap.
• Place the muffuletta top side up on a cutting board and put something heavy (like a big book or a heavy pot) on top of it, to compress it. Let it rest for 1 hour. After 1 hour, turn the sandwich upside down and continue compressing for another hour.
• Cut the sandwich into wedges and serve.

RANCH MUFFALETTA SANDWICH

Steps:

• For the spicy olive spread: In a bowl, mix together the pimentos, olives, mayo, jalapenos, vinegar and green onions until combined. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• For the sandwich: Lightly dress the iceberg in the olive oil and vinegar.
• Split the ciabatta in half lengthwise. Smear half of the spicy olive spread onto the bottom half of the bread and the other half onto the top half of the bread. Spoon half of the ranch dressing on one side and spread, then repeat with the other side. On the bottom half, layer half the meat and cheese. Top with the iceberg, followed by the remaining meat and cheese. Finally, put the top half of the ciabatta on top. Wrap in plastic wrap and place on a baking sheet with a second baking sheet and a heavy iron skillet on top to weigh it down. Put in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
• To serve: Slice into 4 pieces.

VEGETARIAN MUFFULETTAS WITH PICKLED ICEBERG

Steps:

• First, make the pickled iceberg:
• Place the vinegar, water, garlic, sugar, fennel seeds, oregano, pimentón, and salt in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stir to dissolve the sugar and salt, and then turn off the heat.
• Working with 1 leaf at a time, place the lettuce into a large bowl and pour a little of the hot brine on each leaf as you layer them in the bowl. Pour any extra brine into the bowl. Let the mixture cool to room temperature (at this point you can cover the bowl in plastic and refrigerate it for up to a day). Once the brine cools, drain the iceberg (save the brine for another use or discard) and pat dry the leaves with a kitchen towel.
• Next, finish the sandwiches:
• While the lettuce is cooling down, stir together the olives, capers, and mayonnaise in a small bowl.
• Divide the olive mixture between the tops and bottoms of each roll. Layer each sandwich evenly with provolone, peppers, pickled iceberg, and mozzarella. Close each sandwich and wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap.
• Place a flat surface (like a cutting board or sheet pan) on top of the sandwiches and put something heavy on top (like a cast-iron skillet or a few cans of beans). Let the sandwiches sit for at least 1 hour at room temperature (or a day in the refrigerator, but bring to room temperature before serving).
• Unwrap the sandwiches, cut each in half, and serve.

MUFFULETTA SUBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Pulse olives and artichoke hearts in a food processor until finely chopped. Add mayonnaise, capers and garlic powder; process until blended. Spread onto buns. Layer bottom halves with ham, salami and cheese; close sandwiches., Cut sandwiches in half; place on an ungreased baking sheet. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through, 10-15 minutes.

MUFFULETTA MEATBALL SUB

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a food processor, combine the capicola, ham and salami, and pulse until the meats are chopped.
• In a bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped meats, milk, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, onion, parsley and eggs. Mix until combined. Make a small test patty and cook. Taste the patty and then sprinkle the meat mixture with salt and pepper. Portion the meatball mixture into 3-ounce balls and arrange on a sheet pan. Bake the meatballs until three-quarters cooked, about 20 minutes.
• For the sauce: In a pot, heat the oil. Add the carrots, celery and onions, and saute until tender. Add the garlic, oregano and rosemary, and saute for another 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the red wine. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree and tomato paste and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning.
• Stir in the basil and season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• For the tapenade: In a food processor, combine the olives, sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, garlic and some pepper, and pulse until finely chopped. Add the oil to the mixture slowly, while pulsing.
• For plating: Bring the sauce to a simmer in a pot and add the meatballs. Simmer until the meatballs are fully cooked, and then hold hot until ready to serve.
• Split the hoagie rolls and butter each side. Toast the rolls on a hot skillet or saute pan. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the tapenade on the toasted roll and spoon 3 meatballs into each roll. Top each roll with some tomato sauce, Parmesan and chopped parsley, then serve.

MUFFULETTAS

Steps:

• Whisk the first 3 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Gradually blend in the oil. Stir in the olives and roasted peppers. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Cut the top 1-inch of the bread loaf. Set the top aside. Hollow out the bottom and top halves of the bread. Spread some of the olive and roasted pepper mix over the bread bottom and cut side of the bread top. Layer the meats and cheeses in the bread bottom. Top with the onions, then the arugula. Spread the remaining olive and roasted pepper mix on top of the sandwich and carefully cover with the bread top. You can serve the sandwich immediately or you can wrap the entire sandwich tightly in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator a day before serving.
• Cut the sandwich into wedges and serve.

NEELY'S MUFFULETTTA SANDWICH

Steps:

• Whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, honey, lime juice, red pepper flakes, oregano, and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Add the onion, carrot, olives, artichoke hearts, peppers, celery, and parsley; toss, and season to taste with salt. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the salad to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Slice the bread in half, and pull some of the interior from the middle of the roll to make room for the other ingredients. Spread a generous amount of the olive oil salad on each half. (You will probably have some salad leftover; it holds for 2 or 3 days in the refrigerator.)
• Layer the meat and cheese on the bottom half, alternating layers of each meat with thin layers of cheese. Cover with the top half of bread, press gently, slice into wedges, and serve.