Camping Muffuletta Recipes

CAMPING MUFFULETTA

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.

MUFFULETTA

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.

MOM'S SIT SANDWICH (AKA SQUISHY SORTA MUFFULETTA)

Steps:

• Cut loaf of bread in half horizontally and hollow out the soft bread from both halves, leaving a shell about 3/4-inch thick.
• Reserve soft bread for another use.
• In small bowl, combine artichoke liquid with mayonnaise and spread onto bread shells.
• In bottom half, layer ingredients at least three times until mounded high, beginning and ending with tomatoes.
• Place top half of bread over mound of ingredients.
• Wrap entire loaf tightly with plastic wrap.
• This must be assembled at least 2 hours before serving, but can be assembled up to 8 hours before serving.
• Refrigerate.
• Before serving, place sandwich (wrapped in plastic) on a hard surface and SIT ON IT! This smashes the ingredients together and makes it easier to serve. Do not omit this step, strange as it seems, as this step is what makes the sandwich delicious.
• Slice the loaf into wedges or slices to serve.
• Note: I usually roughly chop the artichoke hearts, myself. Also, regarding the artichoke juice mixture: you can add only half of it to the mayo, if you like - how much of the spread you're going to need depends on the size of loaf you've gotten.
• Note #2: other good additions I've made to the sandwich include strips of roasted red and yellow pepper, whole fresh basil leaves (placed on top of the tomatoes) or pesto into the mayo, pepperoncini and/or sliced sweet red cherry peppers, pancetta, and more salami or other hard sausage than the recipe calls for.
• Note #3: any leftover mayo mixture, by the way, makes a great salad dressing! I once accidentally used the juice from a jar larger than the recipe called for and the mixture was far more than I needed -- so to thicken it up a bit I added a bit of lowfat sour cream, and made the leftover mixture (much to my husband's delight) available as salad dressing. Yum!

MUFFULETTA

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.

REAL N'AWLINS MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• To Make Olive Salad: In a medium bowl, combine the green olives, kalamata olives, garlic, cauliflower, capers, celery, carrot, pepperoncini, cocktail onions, celery seed, oregano, basil, black pepper, vinegar, olive oil and canola oil. Mix together and transfer mixture into a glass jar (or other nonreactive container). If needed, pour in more oil to cover. Cover jar or container and refrigerate at least overnight.
• To Make Sandwiches: Cut loaves of bread in half horizontally; hollow out some of the excess bread to make room for filling. Spread each piece of bread with equal amounts olive salad, including oil. Layer 'bottom half' of each loaf with 1/2 of the salami, ham, mortadella, mozzarella and Provolone. Replace 'top half' on each loaf and cut sandwich into quarters.
• Serve immediately, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for a few hours; this will allow for the flavors to mingle and the olive salad to soak into the bread.