Muffuletta - Olive Spread (Help I'm Starving)

BBQ Grail · Mar 25, 2008

Since watching Bobby Flay's Muffuletta Throwdown last year I have been trying to find something close here in Northern California. My quest has met with failure at every turn.

This has forced me to consider the fact that I'm just going to have to make my own. The downfall has been the olive spread on each and every sandwich I've tried.

I've searched high and low for an appropriate olive spread recipe and they are all so different. I know I can turn to you for help, my gastronomically enlightened brothers.

Does someone have a real "New Orleans" type Muffuletta olive spread recipe? PLEASE!!!!

Smokin Gator · Mar 25, 2008

This one was in last month's William's Sonoma catalog... It is on my "to try list." Looks about right though:

This piquant salad is an essential ingredient for the classic New Orleans sandwich known as muffuletta (see related recipe at left). You can find pickled pepperoncini, also called Tuscan peppers, in most supermarkets.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups queen pimiento-stuffed olives
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
1 cup Italian gardinera (pickled cauliflower,
carrots, red pepper and celery)
1/4 cup pickled pepperoncini
1/4 cup capers, drained
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 Tbs. chopped fresh oregano
1/2 cup olive oil
Directions:
Place the queen and Kalamata olives, the gardinera, pepperoncini and capers on a cutting board. Roughly chop the ingredients, cutting each piece 2 or 3 times. The mixture should be very coarse. Transfer to a bowl and add the garlic, parsley, oregano and olive oil. Stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Serves 4.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

Here is the link to their version of the sandwich:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/recipedetail.cfm?objectid=ABE1EE9B-E881-782B-01E1B124D65F367B

BBQ Grail · Mar 25, 2008

Smokin Gator said:
This one was in last month's William's Sonoma catalog... It is on my "to try list." Looks about right though:

This piquant salad is an essential ingredient for the classic New Orleans sandwich known as muffuletta (see related recipe at left). You can find pickled pepperoncini, also called Tuscan peppers, in most supermarkets.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups queen pimiento-stuffed olives
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
1 cup Italian gardinera (pickled cauliflower,
carrots, red pepper and celery)
1/4 cup pickled pepperoncini
1/4 cup capers, drained
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 Tbs. chopped fresh oregano
1/2 cup olive oil
Directions:
Place the queen and Kalamata olives, the gardinera, pepperoncini and capers on a cutting board. Roughly chop the ingredients, cutting each piece 2 or 3 times. The mixture should be very coarse. Transfer to a bowl and add the garlic, parsley, oregano and olive oil. Stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Serves 4.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

Here is the link to their version of the sandwich:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/recipedetail.cfm?objectid=ABE1EE9B-E881-782B-01E1B124D65F367B

Now that one looks good. What great timing?

Smokin Gator · Mar 25, 2008

trp1fox said:
Now that one looks good. What great timing?

Yeah... the only thing I saw wrong was the servings!!! That aint four servings in my house!!!

Bigmista · Mar 25, 2008

You know what would be really good in that? Olives stuffed with garlic cloves. Or even better the habanero garlic cloves!

Kenny 13 · Mar 25, 2008

Sorry I can't help you out. Here in New Orleans, we take it for granted. It's so easy to get a great muffaletta that not many people really try their hand at the homemade type. I live less than 10 miles from Serio's where that throwdown was filmed, and I pass by one of the best muffaletta stops in the New Orleans area daily so it's never even occurred to me to try to make them myself.

hcarter · Mar 25, 2008

All I can say is Central Grocery.

qman · Mar 25, 2008

Smoking Gator's recipe is close enough to the one we use here that I won't post mine.

The main difference is we chop it a little finer that this recipe indicates. Adjust the peppers up or down to the taste of your audiance. I use more.

Kenny 13 · Mar 25, 2008

hcarter said:
All I can say is Central Grocery.

Naaah. They claim to originate the muffaletta (don't know if it's true or not) but they're not even close to the best - not that they're bad.

jdub · Mar 25, 2008

Just order it online from New Orleans. There are a few good brands, one of the local boys here can point you the right stuff. There is an online store "cajungrocery dot com"? Can't remember.
You will not get close to the good stuff elsewhere, and its so good its worth it.

The Pigman · Mar 25, 2008

Had these for the first time a couple years ago and love them. Only one place around that makes them and it is about 1/2 hour drive.

Crüe-B-Cüe · Mar 25, 2008

Here's a bulk recipe, you can cut it down...

1 gallon large pimento stuffed green olives, slightly crushed and well drained
1 quart jar pickled cauliflower, drained and sliced
2 small jars capers, drained
1 whole stalk celery, sliced diagonally
4 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced diagonally
1 small jar celery seeds
1 small jar oregano
1 large head fresh garlic, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 jar pepperoncini, drained (small salad peppers) left whole
1 pound large Greek black olives
1 jar cocktail onions, drained

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or pot and mix well. Place in a large jar and cover with 1/2 olive oil and 1/2 Crisco oil. Store tightly covered in refrigerator. Allow to marinate for at least 24 hours before using.

MAsQue · Mar 25, 2008

I've been using the following recipe for some years, and have gotten a lot of compliments on it:

Muffaletta Salad:

3 cups pimento stuffed green olives, chopped
1 ½ cups kalamata olives, chopped
8 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup pepperoncini, stems removed, chopped
1 cup cauliflower, carrots and celery from giardeniera salad, chopped
¼ cup roasted peppers, chopped
½ cup cocktail onions, chopped
¼ cup capers, chopped if large
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp mustard seed
2 tbl liquid from capers
¼ cup red wine vinegar
2/3 cup olive oil
2 tsp each oregano basil and thyme
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes

Mix all together. Let sit for a week or so before using.

BBQ Grail · Mar 25, 2008

jdub said:
Just order it online from New Orleans. There are a few good brands, one of the local boys here can point you the right stuff. There is an online store "cajungrocery dot com"? Can't remember.
You will not get close to the good stuff elsewhere, and its so good its worth it.

First, I'm more interested in actually doing things myself. It's too easy to just buy stuff. Some people like to eat, some people like to cook. I like to eat what I cook.

Second, shipping just kills you!

hcarter · Mar 25, 2008

Kenny 13 said:
Naaah. They claim to originate the muffaletta (don't know if it's true or not) but they're not even close to the best - not that they're bad.

Nah, They're not the best, but when ya grow up with 'em....well....sentimental favorite maybe?

Napper · Mar 25, 2008

Central Grocery might not be the best but they are Damn close!
I buy the olive spread by the quart every time I am in the quarter.

My favorite!

Kenny 13 · Mar 26, 2008

hcarter said:
Nah, They're not the best, but when ya grow up with 'em....well....sentimental favorite maybe?

Yeah, I hear ya! I think their location has something to do with the sentimental thing. As far as the actual muffaletta goes, there are at least 5 places and maybe as many as 10 that I would go to before Central - but that's just my preference.

Bigdog · Mar 26, 2008

Kenny 13 said:
Yeah, I hear ya! I think their location has something to do with the sentimental thing. As far as the actual muffaletta goes, there are at least 5 places and maybe as many as 10 that I would go to before Central - but that's just my preference.

I would love to see your list. I haven't had a good muffaletta for a long time.

Kenny 13 · Mar 26, 2008

Bigdog said:
I would love to see your list. I haven't had a good muffaletta for a long time.

Well just reading this thread has given me a craving, so I'll be stopping by #1 on the list on my way home from work - Mo's Pizza. For other places that have really good ones, any of the DiMartino's locations, Serio's, Brooklyn Pizzaria.

Bigdog · Mar 26, 2008

Kenny 13 said:
Well just reading this thread has given me a craving, so I'll be stopping by #1 on the list on my way home from work - Mo's Pizza. For other places that have really good ones, any of the DiMartino's locations, Serio's, Brooklyn Pizzaria.

Thanks. I will check one or more of these out next time I visit Nawlins.

Muffuletta - Olive Spread (Help I'm Starving)

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Full Fledged Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

Knows what a fatty is.

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Knows what a fatty is.

somebody shut me the fark up.

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