How To Make A Muffuletta

This traditional New Orleans Muffuletta recipe is a favorite of ours. Layers of meats, cheese and a special olive salad piled high onto sturdy Italian bread.

A Muffuletta is a Sicilian sandwich filled with Italian salami, ham and cheese, and the key ingredient in a Muffuletta is the olive salad which is the sandwich’s signature trait.

Why This Recipe Works

• This Muffuletta recipe is certainly a winner! Every bite is spectacular and the flavors are perfect.
• They’re great for tailgating, to bring to a pot-luck, or even to serve for dinner. Slice them into wedges and you’re good to go.
• Layers of ham, pastrami, salami, pepperoni and provolone cheese are piled high on a loaf of french or Italian bread. But the key ingredient, in my opinion, is the olive and carrot spread!

Ingredient Notes

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

• Green olives and baby carrots
• Italian salad dressing
• Parmesan and provolone cheese
• French bread
• Ham, pastrami, sliced pepperoni
• Butter

How To Make This Recipe

1. Place green olives and the carrots in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.
2. Stir in salad dressing and parmesan cheese. Set aside.
3. Slice bread horizontally and layer the meats, then the provolone and finish with the olive salad.
4. Place the other half of the bread on top.
5. Brush melted butter on top of the bread.
6. Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil and bake about 50 minutes.
7. Remove sandwich from the oven and before unwrapping, gently push down on the sandwich.
8. Unwrap, slice, and serve.

Expert Tips

• Make sure you buy pitted green olives for the olive salad.
• After taking the muffuletta out of the oven, gently push down on the sandwich.
• A muffuletta is a big and hearty sandwich, so you may want to save some for later. If you have any leftover sandwich, it’s easy to reheat. Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil and place it on a baking sheet. Heat it in a preheated 325 degree F oven (165 degrees C) for 12-15 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Did Muffulettas Originate?

Although Italian, the muffuletta didn’t originate in Italy. It is the creation of Sicilian immigrant, Salvatore Lupo who arrived in New Orleans in the early 1900’s and opened Central Grocery. He developed this sandwich for his customers, many of whom were farmers who would order bread, sliced cold cuts, olives and cheese. Since they would eat standing, Mr. Lupo decided to put all of those ingredients together in a sandwich to make it easier for his customers to enjoy.

What Should I Serve With A Muffuletta?

Serve muffuletta with dill pickles and crispy potato chips, French Fries, Potato Salad, or a bowl of soup.

These Muffulettas are the real deal!

Enjoy!

How To Make A Muffuletta

By: Joanie Zisk

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 50 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr

Servings: 10 servings

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This traditional New Orleans Muffuletta recipe is a favorite. Layers of meats, cheese and a special olive salad piled high onto sturdy Italian bread.

Ingredients 

• ▢ 16 oz Jar green olives
• ▢ 12 oz Baby carrots
• ▢ 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• ▢ 1/2 cup parmesan cheese , grated
• ▢ 2 loaves of French (or Italian bread)
• ▢ 1/2 pound Ham
• ▢ 1/2 pound Pastrami
• ▢ 1/4 pound Sliced Pepperoni
• ▢ 1/2 pound Provolone
• ▢ 4 tablespoons butter , melted

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Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the green olives and the carrots in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.
• Stir in the salad dressing and parmesan cheese. Set aside.
• Slice the bread horizontally and on one half, layer the meats, then the provolone and finish with the olive salad.
• Place the other half of the bread on top.
• Brush melted butter on top of the bread.
• Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil and bake about 50 minutes.
• Remove the sandwich from the oven and before unwrapping, gently push down on the sandwich.
• Unwrap, slice and serve.