Muffuletta

http://api.foodnetwork.ca/images/dmm/M/U/Muffuletta_003.jpg

Rate this Recipe

3.14 14 Users

Rate It

Total Votes:14

Additional information on this Recipe from Food Network Canada

Courtesy of

Recipes from this Episode

Tools:
Sign in to save recipes
Print
Share:

Recipe summary

Lunch at your desk... again? Look forward to a classic Italian sandwich. The muffuletta sandwich originated in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1906. The Italian-style sandwich was created at the Central Grocery, where they are still sold today. They usually use a round loaf but I like making mine with a baguette. My version has smoked provolone instead of regular and sun-dried tomato pesto instead of the olive salad and I opted for the mortadella instead of salami ham. Yield is 4 sandwiches.

Preparation time:
Cooking time:
Yield: 4

Ingredients

Sundried Pesto

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. pine nuts, toasted
1/2 cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomato
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup packed basil, leaves
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
salt, and freshly cracked black pepper

Grilled Vegetables

olive oil, for brushing
2 medium red bell pepper
2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
1 small eggplant, sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick

Assembly

1 large baguette
10 small arugula, leaves, washed, spun dry
8 slices smoked provolone cheese
8 slices mortadella, grilled
parchment paper
string

Directions

Sundried Pesto

In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, basil, and garlic and pulse until finely chopped.
Add the 2 tablespoons of the oil and process until smooth.
Season the pesto with salt and pepper.
Set aside.

Grilled Vegetables

Preheat grill.
Brush the bell peppers, zucchini and eggplant with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill over a medium-high heat or broil for 12 to 15 minutes, turning, until lightly charred all over and very tender.
Transfer the bell peppers to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let cool.
Peel, core and seed the bell peppers and cut into quarters.
Set aside.

Assembly

Slice open the baguette and discard the center, leaving a scant 1/2-inch of bread all around.
Spread a thin layer of pesto on both sides of the baguette.
Layer each ingredient in this order: half the eggplant, half the zucchini, half the roasted pepper, 4 slices mortadella folded in half, 4 slices provolone cut in half, the arugula.
Top with the remaining ingredients in reverse order, this makes for a good looking sandwich!
Press the other half baguette on top, press down the sandwich firmly and roll it in parchment paper.
Tie with string at four equal intervals to make four equal-sized sandwich sections.
Slice the sandwich between the strings to make four sandwiches.