How to Make Muffaletta Sandwich Recipe

One day when talking to my brother he said “Do you know how to make a muffaletta sandwich”. What kind of sandwich was my response. He couldn’t believe that I had never heard of this sandwich. He said it was from Central Grocery New Orleans and was so good. Of course this conversation went on for quite some time until I got the drift of this unusual delicacy. Being the “foodies” that we all are, I had to have every little detail.


Before I learned how to make a muffaletta sandwich I found that it originated from humble beginnings in the early nineteen hundreds out of the French Quarters of New Orleans. I always thought of New Orleans as having a large French influence not Italian as this sandwich reflects. To my surprise, I learned that in the late eighteen hundreds the majority of immigrants into New Orleans were from Sicily. They settled in a part of the French Quarters which at one time was known as “little Italy”.


As I was learning how to make a muffaletta sandwich, I learned a lot about the early Italian immigrants who brought their culture, traditions and food cuisine which are embedded in the muffaletta sandwich. It was the creation of the Central Grocery in the French Quarter of New Orleans and consisted of a muffaletta loaf of bread, meats and cheeses and a delicious olive salad recipe. Everyone who has tasted this sandwich has never forgotten the delicious unique taste that they experienced.

How to Make Muffaletta Sandwich RecipeHow to Make Muffaletta Sandwich Recipe

Backing up a little to the interesting creation of this product. Sicilian farmers who were selling at the local farmers markets would come into the Central Grocery New Orleans for lunch. They often would order the olive salad recipe and bread to soak the juices in. (I can understand that; I could make a meal with bread and that delicious olive salad.)  They would ask for some meat to go with the bread and salad mixture and then settle down on some of the barrels to enjoy their lunch.

The Ingredients for salad below.

mixture to make muffaletta salad
muffaletta breadBread for the Muffaletta Sandwich

In the early nineteen hundreds, the owner of Central Grocery New Orleans decided to make a sandwich from these ingredients. From what I am told this sandwich has been a really big hit. People will stand in line for hours to buy one. Some make a special trip from miles away to enjoy this sandwich. Since I learned about it, I have found most people have heard of them. When I went to the Fresh Market to get the meat to make mine, a woman standing in line said “You are going to make a muffaletta sandwich.”


Can you imagine a sandwich with such popularity? Once you eat it you will understand why. Just to give you an idea of the size, the one I made weighed over seven pounds. I am told they sell for under $15.00 at Central Grocery New Orleans. That is a bargain! If any of you have been or get the chance to try one of these sandwiches at Central Grocery, let me know what you think about it. This sandwich makes a great Superbowl food or other party food.

NOTE: The following are my recipes which I came up with after gathering information from ones who have eaten the original. I plan to sample the original as soon as I can get to New Orleans. For now I can tell you the following makes a delicious sandwich.

MUFFALETTA SANDWICH RECIPE

  • 1 Loaf bread (Recipe makes two loaves)
  • 1 Recipe olive salad (Recipe is for 1 sandwich; if you wish to make two sandwiches, double the recipe)
  • (Meats and cheese for 1 sandwich; double if making 2 sandwiches)
  • ¼ Pound very thinly sliced ham
  • ¼ Pound very thinly sliced capicola
  • ¼ Pound very thinly sliced mortedella
  • ¼ Pound very thinly sliced Genoa salami
  • ¼ Pound very thinly sliced pepperoni
  • ½ Pound shredded provolone cheese

To Assemble Muffaletta Sandwich:
After loaf of bread has cooled completely, slice horizontally in half.

Spread bottom half with a layer of the olive salad.(BELOW)

Assembling Muffaletta sandwich

Layer ham, layer pepperoni, layer half of provolone cheese, layer salami, layer capicola, layer remaining half of provolone cheese; layer mortadella; press layers down lightly. (BELOW)

Assembling a Muffaletta Sandwich

Top meats and cheese with another layer of the olive salad. (BELOW)

Assembling a Muffaletta Sandwich

Place top half of bread; press down lightly.

To serve, cut in quarters (That is how it is served in New Orleans but really 1/8 is a large serving) (BELOW)

A quarter cut Muffaletta sandwichCut Sandwich

OLIVE SALAD RECIPE

I would say the olive salad is the most important part of the muffaletta sandwich. It is so good and makes the sandwich. It is good to eat plain as a salad.

  • 1 Cup finely chopped black olives
  • 1 Cup finely chopped green olives
  • ½ Cup finely chopped celery
  • 1 Cup finely chopped carrots
  • 1 Cup finely chopped cauliflower
  • 2 Cloves minced garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon oregano
  • ½ Cup olive oil
  • ½ Cup vinegar

Combine all ingredients for olive salad and mix well. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for over 24 hours. Stir mixture occasionally.

Pan bread recipe for Muffaletta sandwichSesame Pan Bread

SESAME PAN BREAD RECIPE

This bread is really delicious and makes a great muffaletta sandwich.

  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 2 Packages active dry yeast
  • 7 ½ to 8 ½ cups flour
  • 2 Cups water
  • ¼ Cup butter
  • 1 Cup milk
  • 1 Slightly beaten egg
  • ¼ Cup (or more) sesame seeds

Combine sugar, salt, yeast and 2 cups flour in large bowl.
Heat water, 1 cup milk and butter in saucepan over low heat until very warm (120F to 130F degrees),
On low speed gradually beat milk mixture into dry ingredients; increase speed and beat 2 minutes.
Beat in egg and 1 cup flour scrapping sides of bowl.
Stir in enough flour with spoon to make soft dough (about 4 cups).
Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic; about 10 minutes.
Add more flour if needed.
Shape dough into a ball and cover with bowl; let rest 15 minutes.
Grease 2 nine inch round cake pans; divide dough in half and press with fingers into 2 cake pans.
Cover and let rise in warm place until double in size; about 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350F degrees; brush loaves with milk and sprinkle heavily with sesame seeds.
Bake 40 minutes or until golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped with fingers.

When I was learning how to make a muffaletta sandwich, I found the following recipes on a page tucked in with my other recipes. I do not know where it came from (perhaps a magazine) but it does have the creator’s name for each recipe. (Check bottom of recipe for origination).

FERRITA’S “MUFFY” SANDWICH

  • 3 Tablespoons prepared mustard
  • 1 (8 inch) round loaf Italian bread (Cut in half horizontally)
  • ½ Cup shredded (2 ounces) Cheddar cheese
  • ½ Cup (2 ounces) mozzarella cheese
  • ½ Cup (2 ounces) provolone cheese
  • 2 to 3 Ounces sliced cooked ham
  • 2 to 3 Ounces sliced Genoa salami
  • 2 to 3 Ounces sliced bologna
  • 2 to 3 Ounces sliced cooked turkey
  • 1 to 1 ½ Cups Muffy Salad Mix (Recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

TO ASSEMBLE spread mustard on cut sides of bread.

Combine cheeses; place on bottom half of bread.

Arrange meats on both halves of the bread; place on baking sheet.

Bake 15 minutes until thoroughly heated.

Spread chilled Muffy Salad Mix on bottom half; cover with top half.

Cut sandwich into quarters; serve immediately.

Serves 2 to 4.


MUFFY SALAD MIX

  • 1 ½ Cups pimiento stuffed lives drained
  • 1 Cup ripe olives drained
  • 1 Cup coarsely chopped celery
  • 1 Cup pickled garden vegetables drained
  • 6 Cloves garlic
  • 1 to 1 ½ Teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 to 1 ½ Teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1/3 Cup olive oil
  • 1/3 Cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup dry white or white wine vinegar

Combine all ingredients in food processor.

Process 20 seconds or until finely chopped.

Cover and chill; refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Yield 3 cups.

SOURCE: Agatha Wiley; Fertitta’s Delicatessen; Shreveport, Louisiana

DOODLES MUFFULETTA SANDWICH

  • ¼ Pound thinly sliced cooked ham
  • ¼ Pound thinly sliced Genoa salami
  • 4 Slices Swiss cheese
  • 1 (6 ounces) Package slice provolone cheese
  • 1 (10 inch) Round loaf Italian bread, cut in half horizontally
  • 1 ½ Cups Doodles Olive Salad (Recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

TO ASSEMBLE layer first 4 ingredients on bottom half of bread.

Place halves on baking sheet; bake 20 to 30 minutes until thoroughly heated.

Top bottom half with chilled Doodles Olive Salad.

Place remaining half on top; cut into quarters. 

Yield 2 to 4 servings.


DOODLES OLIVE SALAD RECIPE

  • 3 (10 ounces) Jars pimiento stuffed olives, drained and coarsely chopped
  • 3 Stalks celery chopped
  • 2 Carrots scrape and grate
  • 2 Cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 (4 ounces) Jar diced pimiento drained
  • 3 Tablespoons capers drained
  • ½ Cup olive oil
  • ¼ Cup red wine vinegar

Combine all ingredients; cover and chill. 

Store remaining salad in refrigerator up to 1 week; Yield 7 cups.

SOURCE: Jerry Harris; Doodles; Birmingham, Alabama

NAPOLEON HOUSE MUFFULETTA SANDWICH

  • 2 Slices cooked ham (about 2 ounces)
  • 3 Slices Genoa salami (about 2 ½ ounces)
  • 2 Slices pastrami (about 2 ounces)
  • ¼ cup Italian Olive Salad (Recipe below)
  • 1 slice provolone cheese
  • 1 Slice Swiss cheese
  • 1 (5 inch) Sandwich bun with sesame seeds

TO ASSEMBLE layer first 6 ingredients on bottom half of bun.

Top with remaining bun half; wrap in aluminum foil.

Bake at 350F degrees for 20 minutes until thoroughly heated.

Yield 1 serving.


ITALIAN OLIVE SALAD 

  • 4 Cups pimiento stuffed olives drained and coarsely chopped
  • 1 Cup canned mixed vegetables drained 
  • 1 (14 ounces) Can artichoke hearts drained and coarsely chopped
  • 1 (15 ounces) Can chickpeas drained and coarsely chopped
  • 1 (8 ounces) Jar cocktail onions drained and coarsely chopped
  • ¼ Cup capers drained
  • 2/3 Cup pickled vegetables drained and coarsely chopped
  • 1 Large green bell pepper chopped
  • 3 Stalks celery chopped
  • 2 Cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Cup olive oil
  • ½ Cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons dried oregano
  • ½ Teaspoon pepper

Combine all ingredients and chill for 8 hours.

Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week; yields 12 cups

MUFFULETTA LOAF

  • 2/3 Cup olive oil
  • ½ Cup pimiento stuffed olives (Chop)
  • ½ Cup ripe olives (Chop)
  • ¼ Cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 Teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ Teaspoon pepper
  • 2 Teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 Teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 Loaf (20 Ounce) round Italian bread
  • ¼ Pound sliced salami
  • ¼ Pound sliced mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ Pound sliced pepperoni

Combine first 8 ingredients; stir well, cover and chill 2 hours.

Cut bread loaf in half horizontally; scoop out bottom half (Leave ½ inch shell).

Drain olive mixture and spoon half of mixture into bread shell.

Top olive mixture with salami, cheese, pepperoni and then remaining olive mix.

Cover with bread top; wrap loaf tightly with plastic wrap and chill 8 hours.

To serve cut loaf in wedges; serves 8.