The Muffuletta Food

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.

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.

MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the oil, the carrot, celery, cauliflower, oregano, thyme and 3 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are somewhat tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer the vegetable mixture to a small bowl and stir in the olives, pimento and salt. Set aside to cool.
• When the olive-vegetable salad has cooled, stir in the parsley.
• Slice the bread in half lengthwise. Using your hands, scoop out the inside of each bread half to make a shallow pocket. Brush the inside of the top half with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Fill the bottom bread half with the olive-vegetable salad and pack it down with your hands. Layer the provolone, mortadella and soppressata over the salad (without letting any hang over the sides).
• Cover with the top bread half and tightly wrap the sandwich with plastic wrap. Place the sandwich on a cutting board or baking sheet and weigh it down with a heavy object, such as a cast-iron skillet, for at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours.
• Remove the plastic wrap and cut the sandwich into fourths or sixths. Serve.

MINI MUFFULETTAS

Steps:

• For the spicy olive spread: Mix together the pimientos, olives, mayonnaise, peppers, vinegar, oregano, green onions, salt and pepper in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.
• For the sandwiches: Without separating the rolls, slice the entire top off the set of Hawaiian rolls. Place the bottoms on a baking sheet.
• Lightly dress the iceberg in the olive oil and vinegar, then set aside.
• Smear the spicy olive spread on the bottom half of the rolls. Next, layer on half the meats and cheeses. Top with the iceberg, followed by the remaining meats and cheeses. Finally replace the top half of the rolls.
• Wrap with plastic wrap or foil and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 24. Remove to a cutting board, then slice the rolls and serve.

MUFFALETTA

Steps:

• Whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard and honey in a large bowl. Add the onion, olives, peppers, parsley and oregano; toss, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Slice the bread in half and pull some of interior from the top half. Spread some of the olive salad on each half. You will probably have some salad left; it holds well 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, press gently, slice, and serve.

MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• Combine the kalamata olives, green olives, basil, garlic and oil in a food processor or blender and process until coarsely chopped.
• Cut the top from the bread loaf and hollow out the center so that about 1/2 inch of crust remains. Spread olive mixture evenly over the inside of the loaf. Layer the salami, cheese, tomatoes and onion until the loaf is full.
• Replace top of bread, lightly press down and wrap tightly in plastic wrapping. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 1 day. Slice crosswise in about 1 1/2 inch pieces, and serve.

REAL N'AWLINS MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• To Make Olive Salad: In a medium bowl, combine the green olives, kalamata olives, garlic, cauliflower, capers, celery, carrot, pepperoncini, cocktail onions, celery seed, oregano, basil, black pepper, vinegar, olive oil and canola oil. Mix together and transfer mixture into a glass jar (or other nonreactive container). If needed, pour in more oil to cover. Cover jar or container and refrigerate at least overnight.
• To Make Sandwiches: Cut loaves of bread in half horizontally; hollow out some of the excess bread to make room for filling. Spread each piece of bread with equal amounts olive salad, including oil. Layer 'bottom half' of each loaf with 1/2 of the salami, ham, mortadella, mozzarella and Provolone. Replace 'top half' on each loaf and cut sandwich into quarters.
• Serve immediately, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for a few hours; this will allow for the flavors to mingle and the olive salad to soak into the bread.