Vegan Muffuletta Sandwich is loaded with layers of flavorful ingredients. The main one being all kind of olives. It's just waiting for you to take a big bite.
The full name for this sandwich should be The New Orleans Cajun Olive Salad Muffuletta Sandwich. Mmmmm, that sounds delicious and fun all in one name.
Loaded with typical hoagie ingredients but it also has to have lots of olive salad. Naturally this sandwich is now completely vegan.
I thinly sliced seitan to mimic the original sandwich meats but that is an optional ingredient.
New Orleans Muffuletta sandwichs are made on one huge round loaf and then cut so that the serving is a loaded wedge of goodness.
I used a smaller size loaf that is about half the size of the typical boule loaf that you see in the grocery store.
There are more grocery stores having these smaller uncut loaves. I think it's because they have a bakery in back and it is easy for them to do. Not necessary though. A big loaf if the tradition.
This muffuletta is bringing back some very good memories. The majority of my family lives in California. My cousin got married to a southern girl and we were all invited to the wedding.
Little did that poor girl's family know that we are all travelers and we try to go to every major family event. So, over 20 of us flew to New Orleans for the the big occasion.
Breakfast lunch and dinner we ate! Such good memories. Restaurants everywhere! One of the many food take-aways I have is the memory of the Muffuletta Sandwich.
I made some changes to this recipe since I became vegan and the famous Muffuletta has also became vegan. Score!
Table of Contents
What Kind of Bread is Used for Muffuletta?
- Any firm large loaf of bread that has not been sliced. Something like the French bread called a boule.
- A variety that is flatter from bottom to top or you need to spoon out some of the bread from the inside.
- A firm loaf such as Italian or Sourdough not Sheepherders. Sheepherders is too soft.
How Do You Serve This Vegan Muffuletta Sandwich?
- Something that is often done is that the sandwich is wrapped in waxed paper or parchment paper and then weighted down with an iron skillet, for a period of time, before cutting.
- Muffuletta Sandwiches are cut in half or then quartered and served this way, as a wedge.
- You can also rewrap the quarters and serve them wrapped. This works great for BBQ's and picnics.
I don't want to take your focus off this beauitful and tast sandwich but I thought of another sandwich that I think you'll like.
It's roasted vegetables and layered thick.
The Roasted Vegetable Sandwich is something you shouldn't miss. The juices and flavors and just dang delicious!
I'll show you a picture way down at the bottom because I love to tempt people with gorgeous food. It's my calling 🙂
📋 Recipe
Vegan Muffuletta Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 Boule bread loaf
- 1 ½ cup green olives - pimento stuffed, chopped
- 1 ½ cup kalamata olives - pitted and chopped
- 1 can black olives - 15 ounces black olives, drained and chopped
- ½ cup roasted red bell pepper - chopped
- ½ cup Italian mixed vegetables - chopped - giardiniera comes in a jar
- 2 ounces vegan white cheese slices
- ⅔ cup oil of your choice, I used avocado oil but extra virgin olive oil is also great
- 1 cup fresh chopped flat leaf parsley
- 2 tablespoons capers
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 4 ounces seitan, sliced thin
Instructions
- This sandwich mixture needs to sit overnight for all the flavors to meld.
- Place all three olive varieties in a bowl. Add chopped roasted red bell pepper and giardiniera. Add the oil, parsley, capers, salt and pepper.
- Mix well, cover and put into the refrigerator for at least 12 hours.
- About an hour before serving. - slice your loaves in half.
- Scoop out some of the center of each roll if it is too fat. Save the breadcrumbs for another recipe. They freeze for months.
- Spoon half of the olive salad on your roll. Add a layer of sliced dairy free cheese, a layer if seitan, if used, a layer of red bell peppers and pile on more olive salad.
- Top with the other half roll. Wrap tightly with waxed paper or parchment paper.
- Set the sandwich or sandwiches on a big plate and place a heavy weight on top to compress the sandwiches. Something like an iron skillet. This helps the juices to be absorbed a bit into the bread.
- Chill for 1 hour.
- Unwrap and slice into quarters. Serve.
Notes
Unwrap, slice and eat.
So good.
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This recipe looks out of this world.....what do you use for Italian vegetables and Roasted Red Peppers. Are these in a jar?
Thnaks!
Ginny McMeans
Yes, the easiest ones to get a hold of are by Mezzetta. If you click on the words in the ingredients section, above in the blue lettering, it will take you to photos of the bottles for easier identification.
Stephanie Cassidy
Hi Ginny,
I recently found your site and absolutely love it! I even told my sister in law about it, and she's a registered dietician and vegan, too! I love this muffuletta (and so did she, I brought her some), but am wondering how long it will keep in the fridge and was wondering if it keeps in the freezer? Looking forward to your reply (because I made a LOT of it and want to know if I have to share it or can save it all for me ha ha ha)
Thanks, Ginny!
Cheers,
Stephanie
Ginny McMeans
That is so great Stephanie! I am really glad you found me and thanks for passing the word! This muffuletta will keep pretty long in the fridge. You know how you can keep olives, that come in a jar, after they are opened? Well, this recipe works the same way but not as long. I think you would be very safe with keeping the mixture for up to 10 days. I do not believe it would freeze. I think the textures would be altered. I have to try it just for more definitive information. I will let you know. Thanks 🙂
Jo Wixon
Looks really good and I love olives but my only concern is that with 3 different olives and the capers isn't gonna be really salty?
Kelita
What could I substitute in place of the oil? Any ideas?
Ginny McMeans
Well, it probably is but not in taste. These ingredients have to be in a muffuletta. 🙂
Ginny McMeans
The only thing I can think of is to choose your favorite salad dressing and mix (just a touch) of it with the ingredients and see how it tastes to you.
christine hadden
Wow, this sandwich looks like it's full of flavor! This is perfect for packing up on picnics.
Danielle
Wow, these are stacked high! I love everything going on here, especially the olives.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
What a delicious sandwich! I love all the flavors, from the olives to the bell peppers and avocado oil! I'm going to serve this to my hubby this weekend! I can't wait to taste it to see if it is as delicious as it looks!
Tina Dawson | Love is in my tummy
I'm just mulling here, but wouldn't this make an excellent birthday cake for that insane sandwich lover in your life??? I have never seen a sandwich made this way and it is incredible! Thank you for sharing!
Stephanie
May favorite Muffuletta is the heated one at the Napoleon House. I’ll have to try baking yours.
Parker
This sandwich was great it reminds me of staying at my uncle’s in New Orleans. I made this sandwich with my own giardinera and olive mix, and homemade sliceable cashew cheese. It was well worth the work! Thanks for the recipe.
Hilary
You have both red bell pepper pieces and roasted red bell pepper. Are the pieces chopped raw red bell pepper or more roasted red bell peppers? Sounds delicious - I love olives!
Ginny McMeans
Sorry about that Hilary. You use only roasted red bell pepper.