Eggplant Muffuletta Recipes

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the red peppers, olives, giardiniera, 1/4 cup oil, parsley, vinegar, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover and process until blended; set aside. , In a large skillet, saute mushrooms and onion in butter and 1/4 cup oil. Remove and keep warm. , In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and remaining salt and pepper. Add eggplant, a few slices at a time, and shake to coat. In the same skillet, cook eggplant in remaining oil for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. , Split each loaf of focaccia in half. Spread reserved olive mixture over each focaccia bottom; top with eggplant, mushroom mixture, tomatoes and cheeses. , Place on a baking sheet. Broil 2-3 in. from the heat for 2-4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Replace focaccia tops. Cut each loaf into six wedges.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Combine the dressing and olive salad ingredients and stir together thoroughly; chill in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.
• Trim the stem off the eggplant and slice lengthwise - slices should be about 1/4" thick and the skin should be left on for easier broiling.
• Arrange slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and brush with half the vinaigrette dressing; broil slices 4 to 5 inches from heat source for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned, then remove from heat and set aside.
• Cut (round) loaf of bread horizontally and pull out some of the soft center to allow room for sandwich filling.
• Drain the olive salad from the dressing, reserving the dressing.
• Put half of the olive salad over the base of the loaf.
• Now create layers of broiled eggplant, half of the cheeses, half of the peppers, half spinach, half tomatoes, half lettuce, and drizzle with a tablespoon of the reserved dressing; repeat all layers, and end with a third layer of eggplant.
• Drizzle the remaining dressing (or as much as you like) with olives on the underside of the loaf "lid" and place on top of sandwich.
• Wrap the entire sandwich tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Note: some muffuletta lovers continue with the following directions - my personal preference is to do so, but it's up to you: place the filled loaf on a plate or flat pan; cover with another pan and load several pounds of weight on top (you can use canned goods, a bag of sugar, whatever you have that is heavy); refrigerate for at least 4 hours; this compresses the sandwich, marrying flavors and making it easier to cut and serve; cut into small wedges for serving.
• The flavors are best if the muffuletta is chilled for at least 4 hours and then brought to room temp before cutting and serving.

Steps:

• First, make the pickled iceberg:
• Place the vinegar, water, garlic, sugar, fennel seeds, oregano, pimentón, and salt in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stir to dissolve the sugar and salt, and then turn off the heat.
• Working with 1 leaf at a time, place the lettuce into a large bowl and pour a little of the hot brine on each leaf as you layer them in the bowl. Pour any extra brine into the bowl. Let the mixture cool to room temperature (at this point you can cover the bowl in plastic and refrigerate it for up to a day). Once the brine cools, drain the iceberg (save the brine for another use or discard) and pat dry the leaves with a kitchen towel.
• Next, finish the sandwiches:
• While the lettuce is cooling down, stir together the olives, capers, and mayonnaise in a small bowl.
• Divide the olive mixture between the tops and bottoms of each roll. Layer each sandwich evenly with provolone, peppers, pickled iceberg, and mozzarella. Close each sandwich and wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap.
• Place a flat surface (like a cutting board or sheet pan) on top of the sandwiches and put something heavy on top (like a cast-iron skillet or a few cans of beans). Let the sandwiches sit for at least 1 hour at room temperature (or a day in the refrigerator, but bring to room temperature before serving).
• Unwrap the sandwiches, cut each in half, and serve.

Steps:

• Cut bread in half and hollow out the bottom, leaving only the crust.
• In food processor, chop gardineira, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and olives along with marinating liquid from jars.
• Spread 1/3 of the veggie mixture on the bottom of the bread.
• Layer with provolone cheese.
• Layer of roasted peppers.
• Layer of watercress.
• Layer of veggie mixture.
• Layer of feta.
• Layer of tomatoes.
• Layer of veggie mixture.
• Top sandwich with other half of bread.
• Wrap sandwich toghtly in plastic and weight or press with a heavy pan or a pan with some cans in it.
• Chill overnight.
• Slice into wedges to serve.

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.