Themuffuletta Recipes

Steps:

• Drain the giardiniera and olives. Chop coarsely in a food processor.
• Remove to a bowl and add the olive oil, garlic, oregano, ground black pepper, and stir well. Set aside and allow to marinate for one hour.
• Spread 1 tbsp olive salad on each side of the rolls.
• Place 3 slices of pastrami on each roll, followed by three slices of ham and 2 slices of salami.
• Top each roll with 2 slices of cheese and place under a broiler until the cheese has melted and the sandwich is warm. Place the top on the roll and serve immediately.

Steps:

• To make the olive salad: combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl; stir well to combine; cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow flavors to blend.
• Bring to room temperature before using.
• To make the oregano onions: separate onion rings and place in a mixing bowl, add in remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Cover and let stand at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
• To make the sandwich: all ingredients should be brought to room temperature before assembling the sandwich.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Slice the loaf of muffaletta bread in half horizontally; place bread on a baking sheet and heat in the oven for 5 minutes or until lightly toasted.
• Remove bread from oven; evenly distribute slices of mozzarella cheese on the top half and evenly distribute slices of provolone cheese on the bottom half.
• Return the bread to the oven and bake 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is softened but not melted; remove from oven.
• On the bottom half, layer the meats, beginning with the Genoa, then the mortadella, the capicolla, and finally the ham.
• Press down lightly on the meats to creat a level surface and spoon on the olive salad.
• Add oregano onions and drizzle with olive oil, if desired.
• Cover with top half of bread; slice into quarters and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Slice the loaf in half lengthwise and hollow out the bottom half, leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides. Save the bread filling for another (like bread crumbs).
• Add the olives, giardiniera, peppers, oil, capers and vinegar to a food processor and pulse until the texture is similar to a chunky relish.
• Layer the bottom half of bread with half of the cheese, then spread half of the olive mixture on top of the cheese. Top with the mortadella, salami, ham and the remaining cheese. Spread the remaining olive mixture on to the top half of the bread. Close the sandwich and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. The sandwich can be made and refrigerated the night before. Pack it on the bottom of your cooler and let the weight of the other food press and flatten the sandwich.
• When you are ready to serve, cut in to 6 even pieces.

Steps:

• Insert your knife 1 inch from the top edge of the loaf at a 45 degree angle and cut around the loaf until the lid comes off. Set lid aside. Pull excess bread out of the center of the loaf to create a hollow effect. Level off the inside of the lid and begin assembly. Brush the lid with some of the oil mixture from the olive salad. Spread the olive salad on the bottom half of the bread and begin to layer the sandwich, starting with the fontina cheese, mortadella, arugula, capicolla, red peppers, and finishing with the salami. Wrap the sandwich tightly with plastic wrap and put on a plate. Place a cast iron skillet on top of the sandwich to weigh it down and put it in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving. Cut into wedges.
• Combine all ingredients. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard and honey in a large bowl. Add the onion, olives, peppers, parsley and oregano; toss, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Slice the bread in half and pull some of interior from the top half. Spread some of the olive salad on each half. You will probably have some salad left; it holds well in the refrigerator.
• Layer the meat and cheese on the bottom half, alternating layers of each meat with thin layers of cheese. Cover with the top half, press gently, slice, and serve.

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:

• Spread muffuletta mixture on both sides of roll. Add meats and cheese and serve.
• Coarsely chop the olives, giardiniera, pepperoncini, artichokes, mushrooms, bell peppers and garlic together, then mix together with the olive oil, canola oil, Sicilian spice, oregano, parsley and pepper in a bowl. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• Drizzle dressing over cut surfaces of rolls.
• Fill rolls with cheese, salami, ham and olives.

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in food processor.
• Pulse until blended and coarsley chopped.
• Refrigerate in glass jar for up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• To Make the SANDWICH.
• Split a muffoletta loaf or a round loaf of Italian bread horizontally. Remove some of the center soft bread.
• Spread each half with equal parts of olive salad/oil.
• Place meats and cheeses evenly on bottom half and cover with top half of bread.
• Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Cut in quarters for huge sandwiches, or eighths for more manageable sections.
• To Make the OLIVE SALAD.
• To pit the olives crush each olive on a cutting board with your hand or use the end of a funnel.
• Combine all ingredients except oil in processor. Pulse 4-5 times. You want this to be coarse chopped.
• Add olive oil. Put into a bowl or jar, cover and let the flavors marry for about one week.

Steps:

• In a 2 cup glass measuring cup, combine water and sugar.
• Stir in yeast. Let stand until foamy, 5-10 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine 3 cups flour, salt and shortening.
• Add yeast mixture.
• Process until dough forms a ball, about 5 seconds. Stop machine, and check consistency of dough. It should be smooth and satiny.
• If dough is too dry, add more warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, processing just until blended.
• If dough is too sticky, add more flour, 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, processing just until blended. Process 20 seconds to knead.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, swirling to coat bottom and sides.
• Place dough in the oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat all sides.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk,.
• about 1 1/2 hours.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• When dough has doubled in bulk, punch down dough, and turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Form dough into a round loaf about 10" in diameter, and place on a greased baking sheet.
• Sprinkle top of loaf with sesame seeds.
• Press seeds gently into surface of loaf.
• Cover very loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise until almost doubled in bulk, 1 hour.
• Place rack in center of oven.
• Preheat oven to 425.
• Remove plastic wrap.
• Bake loaf in center of preheated oven, for 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 375, and bake 25 minutes.
• The loaf is done when it sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.
• Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Steps:

• Combine first 10 ingredients in processor and chop coarsely. With processor running, gradually add oil. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.) Serve with bread.

Steps:

• Combine the water, yeast and sugar in the workbowl of a stand mixer, stir well and let stand for 5-10 minutes or until good and foamy.
• Meanwhile, combine the flours, salt, and lard in a bowl and work in the fat with your hands until broken up into very small pieces.
• When the yeast is foamy, fit the mixer with a dough hook attachment and gradually add the flour on low speed until its all incorporated. Scrape the sides down between additions. When the dough comes together, turn it onto a floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 5-10 minutes, adding more flour if necessary. Alternatively, you can let the machine do the work.
• Coat a large bowl with the Olive Oil, then put the dough in, turning once to coat both sides. Cover loosely with a clean dry towel, or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours.
• Punch the dough down and shape into a flat round about 9 inches across (it will expand to about 10″.) Place the dough on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds, about 2-3 Tbsp should do it, then press them lightly into the dough. Loosely cover the loaf and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• When the dough has risen, remove the cover, gently brush with the egg wash then gently place into a preheated 425 degree F oven for 10 minutes. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees F for an additional 25 minutes or until it's golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

Steps:

• Cut 1 bread loaf in half crosswise. Roll onto a lightly-floured surface into a 10-inch circle. Cover, and set aside.
• Press together remaining 1 and 1/2 dough loaves, and roll out onto a lightly floured surface into a 12- inch circle. Fit dough into a 9" springform pan, allowing edges to overhang.
• Press spinach and red pepper strips between layers of paper towels, and set aside.
• In a nonstick sauté pan with a bit of oil, saute mushrooms for about 8 minutes; drain.
• Layer half of salami, mushrooms, and olives in dough-lined pan; top with half of cheese slices.
• Layer with half of the ham, spinach, pepper strips, remaining salami, remaining ham, and then artichokes. Top with remaining cheese slices.
• Stir together egg and water. Brush on overhanging pastry edges.
• Top torte with remaining pastry round. Fold overhanging edges over top pastry, crimping as necessary, and press to seal. Brush top with remaining egg mixture.
• Bake at 350 on bottom oven rack 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and cover with aluminum foil, if necessary, to prevent excessive browning.
• Bake 15 to 20 more minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Remove sides of pan, and cut into wedges.

Steps:

• To prepare either version of the olive salad, mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Cover, and refrigerate several hours or overnight, to let the flavors develop. This makes more salad than you need for one 8-inch sandwich. Extra olive salad will keep for a week or more and can be used in salads, sandwiches, etc.
• Lay the bottom of the muffuletta bread on a work surface, cut side up. Layer half of the cheeses and meats on the bread, then spread with 1/2 cup of the olive salad. Top with the remaining meats and cheeses.Finish with another 1/2 cup olive salad. Place top of bread on olive salad, and press down. Cut into four wedges.

Steps:

• FOR THE CRUST---------.
• Combine yeast and water with a pinch of sugar and let yeast proof for 5 minutes or so.
• Place salt and flour in mixer and mix for 15 seconds or so to combine.
• Add yeast mixture, milk and oil and mix on low until just combined.
• Knead with dough hook until soft and pliable.
• Remove from mixer and knead by hand until dough is no longer sticky.
• Allow to rise (covered) in a warm place until doubled in size (about and hour).
• Punch dough down, cut in half, form into 2 balls, cover and let rise until doubled again (about 1/2 hour).
• Form dough on lightly oiled cookie sheets (9x13), dimple, coat lightly with olive oil, salt then bake at 500 degrees on a pizza stone until just starts to brown, about 7 minutes.
• FOR THE OLIVE SALAD-----------------.
• Chop olives, herbs, garlic and onions and combine with 1/4 cup of olive oil.
• FOR THE FILLING---------------.
• Chop meats and mozzarella into 1/8" x 2" strips and place in a resealable freezer bag.
• Add olive salad, mix, shred hard cheeses and add to meat mixture.
• Add more olive oil if necessary.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Final assembly----------------.
• Place 1/2 of the filling on each crust and broil until cheese is bubbly.
• Protect edges of crust from burning with foil if desired.
• Variations: Use left over grilled sausage, leave out all or some of the meats, add any herbs that you like!