Hearty Muffuletta Loaf Recipes

HEARTY MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine first 12 ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid., Cut loaf of bread in half; hollow out top and bottom, leaving a 1-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use). Brush cut sides of bread with reserved liquid. Layer bottom of bread shell with salami, half of the olive mixture, cheese, remaining olive mixture and ham. Replace bread top. Cut into wedges to serve.

TRADITIONAL MUFFALETTA 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.

MEMPHIS-STYLE MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• Mix mayo and dressing in medium bowl; stir in celery, artichokes, olives and pepper.
• Spread half the olive mixture onto bottom half of bread; top with meat, Singles and remaining olive mixture. Cover with top of bread.
• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.

THE BA MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• Make the olive salad:
• Combine Calabrian chiles, shallot, garlic, both olives, piquillo peppers, oil, capers, vinegar, and oregano in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble:
• Split bread in half along the equator line. Divide olive salad, including any liquid, between halves. Lay salami on bottom half of bread, followed by capocollo, provolone, mozzarella, mortadella, and prosciutto. Close sandwich and wrap tightly in plastic. Place between 2 baking sheets and weigh down with a heavy pot or two to flatten slightly. Let sit at room temperature, turning over halfway, 1-3 hours before cutting into wedges to serve.
• Do Ahead
• Olive salad can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

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.

MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 14 ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. , Cut bread in half horizontally; carefully hollow out top and bottom, leaving a 1-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use). Spoon half the olive mixture over bottom half of bread. Layer with salami, ham, mortadella, Swiss and provolone; top with remaining olive mixture. Replace bread top. Wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight. Cut into 8 wedges.

MUFFULETTA PANINIS

Steps:

• Place stuffed olives, Kalamata olives, red onions, lemon juice, artichoke hearts, basil, olive oil, capers, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Refrigerate olive salad 8 hours to overnight.
• Spray a panini press with cooking spray and preheat the grill.
• Layer 1 slice provolone cheese, 1 spoonful olive salad, 2 slices ham, 2 slices salami, another spoonful olive salad, and 1 additional slice provolone cheese on 4 slices bread; top with 4 additional slices to create 4 sandwiches. Place sandwiches in the preheated panini press and grill until bread is toasted, 3 to 5 minutes each. Cut sandwiches in half.

MUFFULETTA SANDWICH

Steps:

• If using home made olive salad, make it by mixing all ingredients together.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours before assembling sandwich.
• Cut bread in half horizontally.
• Remove about 1/2 inch of soft white bread from top layer of each half to make room for the filling, starting about 1/2 from sides.
• Drain olive salad, reserving liquid.
• Brush some of the liquid over cut sides of bread and toast under broiler until just lightly browned.
• Brush a little more liquid on toasted sides and layer salami, 1/2 of the olive salad, the cheese, ham and remaining olive salad on bottom half of bread.
• Cover with top half of bread and secure with a couple of tooth picks.
• Place back in oven for a few minutes to heat all ingredients.
• The cheese should just be warm and starting to get soft, but not runny.
• Cut into 4 quarters and serve with plenty of napkins.