Muffuletta facts for kids
From top left, clockwise: muffuletta cross section, muffuletta in wrappers, muffuletta-style olive salad, circular muffuletta loaves
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy (bread) United States (sandwich) |
| Region or state | Sicily New Orleans |
| Main ingredients | Bread: Wheat flour, water, eggs, olive oil, yeast, salt, sugar Sandwich: marinated muffuletta-style olive salad, layers of mortadella, salami, Swiss cheese, ham, provolone |
A muffuletta is a special round bread from Sicily, an island in Italy. It's also a very popular sandwich that started in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. This tasty sandwich is made using the same unique bread.
Contents
The Story of the Muffuletta
The idea for the muffuletta bread comes from Sicily. It's a traditional bread that has been baked there for a long time.
The famous muffuletta sandwich was created in 1906. It was made by Salvatore Lupo, an Italian immigrant who owned a deli called Central Grocery Co. in New Orleans. This deli is on Decatur Street. Another Italian deli in New Orleans, Progress Grocery Co., opened in 1924. They say that no one is completely sure where the muffuletta sandwich first came from.
What's in a Traditional Muffuletta Sandwich?
A classic muffuletta sandwich uses a whole muffuletta bread loaf. The loaf is cut in half horizontally. Then, it's filled with many delicious layers:
- A special marinated olive salad
- Thin slices of salami
- Savory ham
- Creamy Swiss cheese
- Smooth provolone cheese
- Flavorful mortadella
You can buy muffulettas in different sizes. They come as quarter, half, or full-sized sandwiches.
The Special Olive Salad
The signature olive salad is a very important part of the muffuletta. It's made from olives that are chopped up. Other vegetables like celery, cauliflower, and carrot are also diced. These are often found in a jar of giardiniera, which is a mix of pickled vegetables.
The salad is seasoned with oregano and garlic. Then, it's covered in olive oil. The ingredients are allowed to sit and mix together for at least 24 hours. This helps all the flavors combine and become even tastier.
Most muffulettas are served cold. However, some places will toast the sandwich for you, making the bread warm and the cheese melty.
The Name Muffuletta
The name "muffuletta" is thought to come from a small version of the word muffe. This word means "mold" or "mushroom". Maybe the round bread reminded people of a mushroom cap. Another idea is that it comes from muffola, which means "muff" or "mitten."
The way the word is spelled and said has changed over time. This is common for words that come from other languages, especially in places like New Orleans.
