The Muffaletta Sandwich is a delicious combination of Italian meats, cheeses, and olive salad, all served on a round Italian bread.
– 1 salt-packed anchovy filet (optional) – juice of 1/2 lemon – 1/4 cup olive oil – 6 oz green olives – 2 oz black olives – 2 tbsp red wine vinegar – 2 tbsp dry oregano – 1-2 tsp dry thyme – 1-2 tsp parsley leaves – 1-2 tsp hot sauce (Tabasco or any other hot sauce) – ½ tsp salt – ½ tsp black pepper For the Muffaletta Sandwich : – 1 large nice round rustic bread – 3 cups olive salad – 1/2 cup halved peppadew peppers – 2 cups arugula – 4 oz sliced mortadella – 2 1/2 oz sliced hot soppressata – 2 oz sliced finocchiona salami – 2 oz sliced coppa – 4 oz sliced provolone cheese
Make Olive Salad (make ahead): In a small bowl whisk together olive oil and vinegar and leave them aside. Chop all the pitted olives, black and green, together with the anchovy filet. In a medium bowl mix together the chopped balck and green olives, anchovy, and lemon juice. Add the olive oil mixture and mix well to combine the ingredients. Add the rest of the seasons and mix well again to combine all the ingredients. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill overnight before using.
With a sharp knife cut horizontaly the bread and remove the inside. Spread olive salad over the cut side of the bottom half of the bread. Then layer mortadella, soppressata, salami and provolone cheese. Spread olive salad and add arugula, mortadella slice, provolone cheese, coppa, soppressata, peppadew peppers. Again spread olive salad and add arugula, mortadella slice. Top with olive salad. Place the top piece of the bread on the Muffaletta Sandwich. If you have some of the ingredients left you can add one more layer if needed.
When the sandwich is done, wrap it in plastic wrap and add some weight on top like a heavy pot and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
Remove the sandwich from the refrigerator and take off the plastic wrap, cut it into smaller slices and serve it.
With the right ingredients and a few simple steps, you can easily make a delicious Muffaletta Sandwich that will be the star of your picnic.