Muffaletta

I’m not sure whether I prefer this sandwich or its name. It’s a heaven combination of olive salad and luncheon meats on a big round bread–a Sicilian style sandwich from New Orleans. Someday I’ll get to Central Grocery on Decatur Street to try the original but until then, here’s how I make a muffaletta. It’s best to start a day ahead with the olive salad, but not necessary.
Muffaletta
serves 4-6 depending on the bread
1 cup black olives, chopped
1 cup green olives, chopped
1 red pepper
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil
1 loaf of round bread, Italian or “country” style
120 g (1/4 lb) or thereabouts:
mozzarella cheese
provolone cheese
mortadella
ham
salami
Using a fork as a skewer, roast the red pepper over a gas flame until the skin blackens. Allow to cool, then chop into 1/4 inch pieces. Combine the olives, roasted red pepper, garlic and a generous amount of olive oil. Allow to sit for at least a few hours, and preferably a full day.
Slice the loaf in half, and shallowly scoop out the top. Toast both halves lightly. Drizzle the bread with some of the oil from the olive salad, then arrange the cheeses on the bottom half and put back under the broiler to melt. On top of the melted cheese, layer the meats and then top with a mound of olive salad.
You can also make this with regular Italian bread or baguettes, but the round bread is so much more fun that I never do. Leftover olive salad is the perfect base for Kristen’s Putanesca.