Perfect Muffaletta Bread Recipes

MUFFULETTA BREAD

Steps:

• In a 2 cup glass measuring cup, combine water and sugar.
• Stir in yeast. Let stand until foamy, 5-10 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine 3 cups flour, salt and shortening.
• Add yeast mixture.
• Process until dough forms a ball, about 5 seconds. Stop machine, and check consistency of dough. It should be smooth and satiny.
• If dough is too dry, add more warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, processing just until blended.
• If dough is too sticky, add more flour, 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, processing just until blended. Process 20 seconds to knead.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, swirling to coat bottom and sides.
• Place dough in the oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat all sides.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk,.
• about 1 1/2 hours.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• When dough has doubled in bulk, punch down dough, and turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Form dough into a round loaf about 10" in diameter, and place on a greased baking sheet.
• Sprinkle top of loaf with sesame seeds.
• Press seeds gently into surface of loaf.
• Cover very loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise until almost doubled in bulk, 1 hour.
• Place rack in center of oven.
• Preheat oven to 425.
• Remove plastic wrap.
• Bake loaf in center of preheated oven, for 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 375, and bake 25 minutes.
• The loaf is done when it sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.
• Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

REAL N'AWLINS MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• To Make Olive Salad: In a medium bowl, combine the green olives, kalamata olives, garlic, cauliflower, capers, celery, carrot, pepperoncini, cocktail onions, celery seed, oregano, basil, black pepper, vinegar, olive oil and canola oil. Mix together and transfer mixture into a glass jar (or other nonreactive container). If needed, pour in more oil to cover. Cover jar or container and refrigerate at least overnight.
• To Make Sandwiches: Cut loaves of bread in half horizontally; hollow out some of the excess bread to make room for filling. Spread each piece of bread with equal amounts olive salad, including oil. Layer 'bottom half' of each loaf with 1/2 of the salami, ham, mortadella, mozzarella and Provolone. Replace 'top half' on each loaf and cut sandwich into quarters.
• Serve immediately, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for a few hours; this will allow for the flavors to mingle and the olive salad to soak into the bread.

MUFFULETTA GARBAGE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Stir the olives, giardiniera and parsley together in a bowl.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface into a 20-by-14-inch rectangle. Working from the shorter end, distribute the provolone over half of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border at the edge. Evenly distribute the salami over the provolone, then repeat with the ham and mortadella. Sprinkle the olive salad evenly on top. Working from the shorter end, tightly roll the dough up, jelly roll-style, into a log. Pinch the open seams together to seal, then tuck them underneath the log.
• Transfer the log to the prepared baking sheet and brush with the beaten egg. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top, then use a sharp knife to slash 4 crosswise vents into the top of the dough.
• Bake until the bread is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. (The cheese may leak out a little bit on the side.)
• Let the bread cool for at least 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice crosswise.

TRADITIONAL MUFFALETTA BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the water, yeast and sugar in the workbowl of a stand mixer, stir well and let stand for 5-10 minutes or until good and foamy.
• Meanwhile, combine the flours, salt, and lard in a bowl and work in the fat with your hands until broken up into very small pieces.
• When the yeast is foamy, fit the mixer with a dough hook attachment and gradually add the flour on low speed until its all incorporated. Scrape the sides down between additions. When the dough comes together, turn it onto a floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 5-10 minutes, adding more flour if necessary. Alternatively, you can let the machine do the work.
• Coat a large bowl with the Olive Oil, then put the dough in, turning once to coat both sides. Cover loosely with a clean dry towel, or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours.
• Punch the dough down and shape into a flat round about 9 inches across (it will expand to about 10″.) Place the dough on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds, about 2-3 Tbsp should do it, then press them lightly into the dough. Loosely cover the loaf and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• When the dough has risen, remove the cover, gently brush with the egg wash then gently place into a preheated 425 degree F oven for 10 minutes. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees F for an additional 25 minutes or until it's golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

MUFFALETTA BREAD

Steps:

• Using the dough hook on your stand mixer*, combine all-purpose flour , 2 cups bread flour, water, salt, sugar, olive oil, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer - scraping down sides as needed - at low speed until blended. Add additional flour if needed, but note that dough should be a bit sticky.
• Increase speed to medium and knead for eight minutes.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured board* and form into a ball.
• Clean and dry mixing bowl and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Place dough in bowl, seam-side down, and spray top lightly with oil.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn dough out onto the floured board and knead for 2 minutes. Divide in two, and form into balls.
• Let dough rest for 15 minutes then flatten out into discs 7 to 8 inches in diameter.
• Place each disc on a baking sheet, and poke all over with a fork.
• Cover with plastic sprayed with oil and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• If you have a baking stone* place it on a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 F.
• Bake each loaf for 20 to 25 minutes until well-browned. Cool on a wire rack completely before slicing. Note 1 : You can use only all-purpose flour if you wish, but the bread flour adds a bit more chewiness. Note 2 : This bread freezes well if wrapped in a couple of sheets of plastic and stored in a zip-lock freezer bag.

PERFECT MUFFALETTA BREAD

Steps:

• Place the flour in a large mixing bowl, then add the salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl. Stir each one in with your finger. Be careful not to let the salt touch the yeast directly, as it can kill or stunt the yeast.
• Add the sugar, oil, and half of the water. Stir with your hand until the mixture begins to come together. Keep stirring and gradually add more water until all the flour is picked up and a sticky dough forms.
• Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, until it's no longer sticky and passes the windowpane test. Check it by stretching a lump of dough between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. If it's translucent in places without breaking, it's been kneaded enough. If it breaks, knead a minute longer and check again.
• Pour about 2 teaspoons of olive oil into a large mixing bowl. Shape the dough into a ball and turn it in the oil to coat, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let it prove at room temperature until at least doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down with your fists to get rid of the air pockets.
• Place it on a large, lightly floured baking stone or cookie sheet. Shape it into a flat disc about 9 inches in diameter.
• Spritz the top of the loaf with a little water and rub it into the surface. Sprinkle about two tablespoons of sesame seeds onto the top of the loaf and gently press them into the dough.
• Loosely cover the loaf with a piece of plastic wrap, and let it prove at room temperature until almost doubled in size, about 1 hour. Once it's proved, it should spring back quickly when gently prodded with a fingertip.
• About 10 minutes before the loaf is done proving, preheat the oven to 425 F.
• Remove the plastic wrap and bake the proved loaf at 425 F for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature to 400 F and bake for another 15 minutes, until the loaf is a rich golden brown and has an internal temperature of 200 F.
• Let the loaf cool for at least 30 minutes on a wire rack before slicing.

MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the olive oil and minced garlic. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
• Place the olives, giardiniera, shallot and oregano in your food processor. Pulse a few times until coarsely chopped.
• Transfer the olive mixture to a bowl. Add half of the garlic oil and vinegar. Stir until throughly mixed.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. For best results, cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight (or up to a week).
• Split the bread in half and brush each cut side with the remaining garlic oil.
• Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, and toast the bread directly in the pan until crisp and golden brown, about 1-2 minutes per side.
• Place the bottom part of the bread, cut side up, on a cutting board. Spread half of the olive salad, making sure to include the juices.
• Layer all the Genoa salami, followed by all the ham. Then, layer the provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, mortadella, prosciutto and soppressata. Finish with the remaining olive salad.
• Close the sandwich and wrap it tightly - two or three times - with plastic wrap.
• Place the muffuletta top side up on a cutting board and put something heavy (like a big book or a heavy pot) on top of it, to compress it. Let it rest for 1 hour. After 1 hour, turn the sandwich upside down and continue compressing for another hour.
• Cut the sandwich into wedges and serve.

MUFFULETTA

Steps:

• Combine the kalamata olives, green olives, basil, garlic and oil in a food processor or blender and process until coarsely chopped.
• Cut the top from the bread loaf and hollow out the center so that about 1/2 inch of crust remains. Spread olive mixture evenly over the inside of the loaf. Layer the salami, cheese, tomatoes and onion until the loaf is full.
• Replace top of bread, lightly press down and wrap tightly in plastic wrapping. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 1 day. Slice crosswise in about 1 1/2 inch pieces, and serve.