How To Make a Classic Muffaletta Sandwich for Mardi Gras

Of all the famous Mardi Gras foods, nothing beats the savory, spicy, sweet & sour  Muffalettasandwich. We have Italian immigrants to thank for this layered masterpiece that they began making in New Orleans in the 1800s—that's become a must-try dish when in NOLA, just like gumbo , beignets, jambalaya, po' boys and crawfish etouffee.

Comprised of Sicilian sesame (or Italian) bread, garlic aioli, spicy olive filling and a mix of deli meats and cheeses, it's exactly what you want after a day drinking hurricanes while watching the Mardi Gras floats go by.

Here now is everything you need to know in order to make an authentic muffuletta sandwich.

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What Is a Muffaletta?

New Orleans' famous sandwich of sliced meats with provolone cheese and spicy olive salad.

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Ingredients You Need To Make a Muffaletta

Ingredients for Garlic Aioli:

• Mayonnaise

• Tabasco

• Garlic clove

Ingredients for Spicy Olive Filling:

• Pimento-stuffed olives

• Pitted black olives

• Roasted red peppers

• Tabasco pepper sauce

• Olive oil

• Sugar

Sandwich Ingredients:

• French or Italian bread

• Sliced hard salami

• Sliced deli ham

• Sliced Provolone cheese

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How To Make a Muffaletta

1. Preheat oven to 400º .

2. Combine mayonnaise, Tabasco sauce and garlic in a small bowl; stir until well blended.

3. Combine green olives, black olives, roasted red peppers, Tabasco sauce, olive oil and sugar in a medium-sized bowl until well mixed.

4. Cut bread in half, horizontally, with a serrated knife, but not all the way through; open flat. Spread both cut sides with garlic aioli mixture. Arrange salami, ham and cheese on the bread evenly. Spoon spicy olive filling lengthwise down the center of the loaf.

5. Place the sandwich on a large piece of foil; close tightly to seal. Place on a large baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted.

6. Cut into serving-size pieces.

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Ingredients

• Garlic Aioli:

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 1 tsp original Tabasco pepper sauce

• 1 garlic clove crushed

• Spicy Olive Filling:

• 1 cup pimento-stuffed olives, finely chopped

• ¼ cup pitted black olives, finely chopped

• ¼ cup roasted red peppers, finely chopped

• 1½ tsp original Tabasco pepper sauce

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp sugar

• Sandwich:

• 1 large loaf French or Italian bread, about 22 inches long

• 8 oz (½ lb) sliced hard salami

• 8 oz sliced deli ham

• 8 oz sliced Provolone cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400º F.

2. Combine mayonnaise, Tabasco sauce and garlic in small bowl; stir until well blended.

3. Combine green olives, black olives, roasted red peppers, Tabasco sauce, olive oil and sugar in medium-size bowl until well mixed.

4. Cut bread in half, horizontally, with serrated knife, but not all the way through; open flat. Spread both cut sides with garlic aioli mixture. Arrange salami, ham and cheese on bread evenly. Spoon spicy olive filling lengthwise down center of loaf.

5. Place sandwich on large piece of foil; close tightly to seal. Place on large baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.

6. Cut into serving-size pieces.