May 13, 2004
Muffaletta

recipe thursdayI’m not sure whether I prefer this sandwich or its name. It’s a heaven combination of olive salad and luncheon meats on a big round bread—a Sicilian style sandwich from New Orleans. Someday I’ll get to Central Grocery on Decatur Street to try the original but until then, here’s how I make a muffaletta. It’s best to start a day ahead with the olive salad, but not necessary.

Muffaletta
serves 4-6 depending on the bread

1 cup black olives, chopped
1 cup green olives, chopped
1 red pepper
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil
1 loaf of round bread, Italian or “country” style
120 g (1/4 lb) or thereabouts:
mozzarella cheese
provolone cheese
mortadella
ham
salami

Using a fork as a skewer, roast the red pepper over a gas flame until the skin blackens. Allow to cool, then chop into 1/4 inch pieces. Combine the olives, roasted red pepper, garlic and a generous amount of olive oil. Allow to sit for at least a few hours, and preferably a full day.

Slice the loaf in half, and shallowly scoop out the top. Toast both halves lightly. Drizzle the bread with some of the oil from the olive salad, then arrange the cheeses on the bottom half and put back under the broiler to melt. On top of the melted cheese, layer the meats and then top with a mound of olive salad.

You can also make this with regular Italian bread or baguettes, but the round bread is so much more fun that I never do. Leftover olive salad is the perfect base for Kristen’s Putanesca.


Posted by kuri at May 13, 2004 08:19 AM

Comments

That’s more like it! My normal mediatinker fix at my normal time. This waiting ‘til 9 each night for a post. ;)

Sounds oishii … except for the olive part

Posted by: UltraBob on May 13, 2004 09:16 AM

Wow, that muffaletta sounds yummy!

Posted by: Barron on May 15, 2004 03:19 AM

Wow - a muffaletta that mimics the traditional roots in Southern Culture on the skids.
Happy day!
What a tool one can use at night to improve impropmtu bedside manner.
Cheers!

Posted by: Corky Wavehorn on June 2, 2004 05:31 AM

I add artichokes, dry sherry, and parmesan cheese to my receipe. Let that sit in the frig. overnite! Man o man.. that has got to be the bomb! Oh, I use turkey in my sandwiches.. yum yum. My man loves them!

Posted by: PATRICIA CLARK on June 5, 2004 05:40 AM
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