Classic New Orleans muffuletta recipe scaled down to serve one person. Layers of meats, melted cheese, and olive salad piled high onto sturdy Italian bread.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian, Sicilian
Keyword: central grocery muffuletta, deli meat, muffuletta, muffuletta bread, new orleans, new orleans muffuletta, olive salad, sandwich
Preparation: Start by gathering all your ingredients. Read through the recipe and the detailed notes on each ingredient for better understanding. Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) to get it ready for baking.
Making the Olive Salad: In a food processor, combine the green olives, black olives, and a chopped carrot. Pulse until they are finely chopped for a consistent texture. Transfer this mixture to a bowl, and blend in the olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Set this olive salad aside for later.
Assembling the Sandwich: Cut your bread horizontally. Begin layering on one half of the bread - first with the assorted meats, followed by the cheese, and finally, top it all with your freshly made olive salad. Cover with the other bread half to complete your sandwich.
Preparing for Baking: Place your Muffuletta sandwich on a sheet of aluminum foil. Lightly brush the top of the bread with melted butter for added flavor.
Heating the Sandwich: Wrap the entire Muffuletta tightly in the aluminum foil. Set it on a rimmed baking sheet - this helps in catching any drips during the baking process.
Baking: Place the sandwich in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes. It’s done when the cheese inside has melted, infusing the sandwich with creamy goodness.
Finishing Touches: After baking, remove the sandwich from the oven. Before unwrapping, press down gently on the top of the sandwich. This helps in evenly distributing the fillings.
Serve and Enjoy: Carefully unwrap your hot Muffuletta and it's ready to be enjoyed.
Notes
Prepare Olive Salad in Advance: The olive salad, a crucial component, can be prepared beforehand and refrigerated for up to 5 days. This makes the assembly process quicker and more convenient.Sandwich Assembly Ahead of Time: Feel free to assemble the Muffuletta up to two days before you plan to eat it. Store it in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.Pressing the Heated Sandwich: After heating, gently press down on the sandwich. This helps distribute the olive salad's flavors throughout the bread, enhancing the overall taste.Doubling the Recipe: This recipe easily doubles if you're making more than one Muffuletta. Considering the versatility of the olive salad, you might want to make extra. It works great as a spread or dip with pita chips.Adjusting for Roll Size: For this recipe, I used two small ciabatta rolls, about 4 inches by 2 inches each. If you're using a larger roll, more than 4 inches by 4 inches, increase the filling amounts to keep the sandwich well-balanced and flavorful.