Authentic Muffuletta Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the original muffuletta sandwich? ›

A Muffaletta sandwich is a type of Italian-American sandwich that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is typically made using a round loaf of Italian bread, such as focaccia or ciabatta, that is sliced horizontally and filled with layers of cured meats, cheeses, and olive salad.

The muffuletta sandwich is an iconic, Italian style sandwich that originated among the Italian immigrants of New Orleans dating back to 1906. It's a large, hefty sandwich that has four very important components to it: Italian bread, an olive salad, provolone and assorted salumi.

A muffaletta is a famous italian sandwich invented in New Orleans with cured meats (ham and salami), provolone cheese, olive dressing and great bread. The olive dressing sports chopped green and black olives with onions and olive oil and spices, and the bread is a round sesame-seed roll big enough for sharing.

ORIGINS. The muffuletta (or muffoletta, moffoletta, muffoletto, muffulietta, depending on the dialect) derives its name from Sicilian dialect that means 'soft and spongy bread'. This soft round bun is so versatile and many locals use it as a sandwich to fill with local hams and cheeses.

The muffuletta sandwich is said to have been created in 1906 at Central Grocery Co. on Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., by its delicatessen owner Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant.

This legendary sandwich was invented at one of the city's oldest markets, the Central Grocery. Sicilian immigrants working at the nearby farmer's market would buy salami, ham, cheese, olive salad and Muffuletta bread (a soft round loaf that the sandwich takes its name from) and eat them separately.

However, all sandwiches have four main components (though all four may not always be used): bread, spread, filling, and garnish.

Note that the muffulettas are served hot unless requested cold. “I bought a very expensive specialized oven just to heat them up,” said Mr. Link. “It has a combination of steam and heat which melts the cheese and highlights the flavors of the meat.” (Whole muffuletta: $12, 930 Tchoupitoulas St.; cochonbutcher.com).

The muffuletta is one of New Orleans' most iconic and quintessential eats. Traditionally, the colossal sandwich is stacked with Italian cured meats, cheeses, and the signature marinated olive salad, all stuffed inside a round seed–studded loaf.

Make it a meal by pairing your homemade muffulettas with French fries, a cup of gumbo, or one of our best Cajun Side Dishes. Try one of these tasty options: Cajun Corn and Bacon Maque Choux. Fried Okra.

What kind of bread is a muffaletta made of? ›

True muffuletta bread is a wide, round, flat loaf, covered in sesame seeds, with a soft crust and a texture somewhere between focaccia and ciabatta. It's not commonly made anywhere else in the country (or the world, as far as I know), but your next best bet is to use some good soft ciabatta or focaccia.

In 1971, Don and Dolores Dissman founded the company in a "small, hole-in-the-wall shop" in Austin, Texas, on South Congress. The initial menu consisted of one sandwich, called "The Original," consisting of mixed meats, cheeses and black olives on a freshly made, toasted bun." It was based on the muffuletta sandwich.

The bread: Traditionally in New Orleans, muffaletta is made on a round, soft-crust, medium-dense bread with sesame seeds on top. Since that bread is not found all over, you can substitute a focaccia or a ciabatta bread.

Layer olive-salad-laden side of bread with overlapping slices of ham, salami, mortadella, provolone, and Swiss. Top with oil-coated side. Cut loaf into four wedges; serve with Zapp's Cajun Crawtator potato chips and Barq's bottled root beer or mini screwtops of Merlot.

Muffaletta is a chopped, relish-like condiment featuring many olives and crisp pickled vegetables. Its texture is more like a bruschetta or tapenade. Giardiniera, on the other hand, is a mix of cauliflower florets, carrots, bell peppers and celery, which may or may not include olives.

Central Grocery & Deli – Home of the Original Muffuletta.

I like both. Po Boy's are oblong shape like a hot dog but bigger with good fresh NOLA bread. Traditional ingredients are shrimp, oysters, roast beef and a couple dozen other items. A muffaletta is round but filled with a oily olive salad.