Authentic Italian Sandwich Delight (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Olive Salad Ingredients
01 -
1 cup green olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
02 -
1 cup black olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
03 -
1/2 cup giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables), drained and coarsely chopped
04 -
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
05 -
1/4 cup capers, drained
06 -
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
07 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
08 -
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
09 -
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
10 -
1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 -
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 -
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Sandwich Ingredients
13 -
1 large round Italian sesame seed bread (about 10 inches in diameter)
14 -
4 oz. thinly sliced mortadella
15 -
4 oz. thinly sliced salami
16 -
4 oz. thinly sliced capicola
17 -
4 oz. thinly sliced provolone cheese
18 -
4 oz. thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
# Instructions:
01 -
In a large bowl, combine green olives, black olives, giardiniera, roasted red peppers, capers, celery, and garlic. Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
02 -
Slice the round bread loaf in half horizontally. If the bread is very thick, remove some of the interior crumb to make room for the fillings.
03 -
Evenly spread half of the prepared olive salad over the bottom half of the bread. Layer mortadella, salami, capicola, provolone, and mozzarella over the olive salad. Spread the remaining half of the olive salad over the layered meats and cheeses.
04 -
Place the top half of the bread loaf over the fillings. Press down gently but firmly to compact the sandwich. Wrap the assembled sandwich tightly in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped sandwich under a heavy skillet or pan and press it for at least 30 minutes.
05 -
Unwrap the sandwich and use a sharp knife to cut it into wedges or slices. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
# Notes:
01 -
Best flavor achieved by making olive salad a day ahead
02 -
Can use any weighted object to press the sandwich
03 -
Authentic Italian sesame seed bread recommended, but sturdy round loaf works too