The Kitchn: This over-the-top muffuletta sandwich is a meat-lovers dream
Buy ingredients at an Italian deli or market. This specialty store will most likely have all the muffuletta ingredients you need to make one at home, including the bread! And be sure to ask the deli counter for thin slices of meat!
The olive salad can be homemade or store-bought. If you’re making olive salad at home, it’s best to make it a day ahead if possible to let the flavors meld. Otherwise, most Italian markets will carry olive salad in their condiments section (this will help reduce prep time). For an authentic-tasting olive salad, I recommend picking up a jar of a New Orleans favorite, Boscoli’s olive mix.
Pick up the right bread. Go for a bread that’s soft but sturdy enough to hold all the fillings, like an Italian sesame-seeded round loaf, ciabatta, or French loaf.
Give your muffuletta time to rest. Compress your sandwich for at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours (if possible) to give the bread ample time to absorb the olive juices.
Muffuletta
Serves 4
For the olive salad:
1/3 cup large pimento-stuffed olives
1/3 cup pitted black olives
1/3 cup giardiniera
...continued
