If you’ve never been to New Orleans, you’re missing out! Because muffaletta sandwiches (moof-fuh-LEHT-tuh or moo-foo-LE-ta) are so worth the trip. This has to be one of the top five best sandwiches in the world. Since the bread is the hardest thing to find outside of NOLA, I swapped it with a round loaf of Italian bread. You can also use a good submarine-style roll. The key is to use firm bread that doesn’t get soggy quickly, so it stays together until you can devour this deliciousness. Whatever bread you use will be as enjoyable as the original, with beautiful layers stuffed inside. He created the classic muffaletta sandwich using a wide, round flat loaf of Sicilian bread covered in sesame seeds. It’s pleasantly soft on the inside and exquisitely crusty on the outside.
Recipe Ingredients
Don’t let the long ingredient list scare you. It’s so worth it.
How to Make a Muffuletta Sandwich
Olive Salad
Mix – Remove olive pits if they have them, and cut the olives up into pieces. Mix the black and green olives, pimento, capers, garlic, oregano, basil, and parsley in a medium bowl. (Photos 1-3)Season – Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper, and thoroughly mix. Store in the refrigerator in a glass container for up to two weeks. (Photo 4)
The Sandwich
Cut and Brush – Cut the bread horizontally. Then remove its interior, leaving about a 1-inch border. Brush the bread generously with oil from the salad. (Photos 5-8)Assemble – Layer the sliced meats and cheese, followed by the olive salad mixture – make sure to include juices with it. (Photos 9-11)Press and Compress – Repeat layers with remaining meat, cheese, and olive mixture, then top with lettuce if desired. Put the lid back on the bread and press gently to compress. (Photos 12-15)Rest – For best results, wrap bread with plastic and let it rest for at least 1-2 hours before serving. Cut into desired shapes. (Photo 16)
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make Ahead Instructions
The olive salad for muffaletta sandwiches is best made ahead (up to two weeks) and refrigerated until you’re ready to make your sandwiches. But the sandwich can be assembled a couple of hours ahead and then wrapped, so the bread doesn’t dry out.
Serving and Storage Instructions
When serving, cut it gently to the size your family wants because kids may prefer smaller ones. Wrap leftover muffulettas tightly with a cling wrap in a freezer-safe resealable bag before storing it for up to four days in the fridge. Or you can freeze it for 30 days. To enjoy it warm, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven under 350℉/177℃ for 15 minutes.
What to Serve With Muffuletta Sandwiches
Enjoy it like a true New Orleanians by serving it with onion rings or seasoned fries, coleslaw or potato salad, and fried pickles. If you’d like healthier options, try baked potato wedges, roasted asparagus, and a side of lentil soup.
More Mouthwatering Sandwich Recipes to Try
Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy JoesFried Fish SandwichShrimp Po’Boy SandwichChicken Salad SandwichSouth African Grilled Cheese SandwichVegan Sloppy Joes
Conclusion
Muffaletta sandwiches, with their flavor explosion, create a party in a party. Would you like to keep up with new recipes? Then sign up for my newsletter. 😍
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”2gv10G9E” upload-date=”2023-03-03T14:28:46.000Z” name=”MUFFALETTA SANDWICH.mp4″ description=”Muffaletta Sandwich is an incredible New Orleans’ original Italian-style round sandwich stacked with layers of ham, mortadella, salami, cheese, and its trademark – the olive salad.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in February 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
