I am way overdue for a Vacation Eatz post, where I like to show you pictures from my photo albums (yes the printed kind) of past trips I have taken. And of course we’ll explore a dish local to that destination.
About 12 years ago I had one of the most wonderful trips of my life. Picture three ladies and rental mini van on a long road trip from Montreal to New Orleans and back. Now the trip was very focused on the journey, not just the destination. We had planned daily stops in Cleveland, Nashville, Memphis, the Smoky Mountains and New York City. But most of the trip was spent in the amazing city of New Orleans.
This road trip was definitely planned around food, even on our meager budget. Thankfully when in NOLA you will eat very well even if it is not fancy. We tried all the usual suspects: Gumbos, Jambalayas, Crocodile meat, Po Boys, Shrimp Etouffe and many other dishes. But a very special sandwich is one of my fondest epicurean moments: the Muffeletta.
Ah! the Muffeletta sandwich. I would never have thought a trip would have been so defined by a simple meal as a sandwich. We decided to give it a try after reading about the Muffeletta in our guidebook but we were not expecting much from the experience. When we saw the size…made from an entire round bread about 10 inches across…we were convinced we would be stuck with leftovers. The Muffeletta was served into 4 sliced portions. We had our quarter each and at the end we had a long discussion as to how we would divide the remaining piece equally in 3 and the next day we got another one for the road for our bayou and plantation expedition.
The muffeletta consists of a focaccia like bread sandwiching layers of marinated olive salad, capicola, mortadella, salami, pepperoni, ham, Swiss cheese and provolone. Often it is slightly heated to soften the cheese. The sandwich was created by the local Italian immigrants as a quick lunch while working in the market. The real signature element is the Olive Salad. I was so taken by surprise by the intense flavors of this olive salad that it has embedded itself deeply in my memory. I actually found a photo with my friend Marie of the actual Muffeletta we ate.
As I was flipping through the pages of a copy the Taste of Treme cookbook, I came across an Olive Salad recipe and the memories came rushing back in. This fabulous cookbook is filled really fun stories, history notes, pictures and of course recipes from NOLA. The cookbook focuses on the gritty and racially mixed neighborhood of Treme, now famous from the television series of the same name which takes place in three months after Hurricane Katrina as the residents of New Orleans try to rebuild their lives and their homes. In Treme you will find the heart and soul of true Soul Food.
I am really a fan of NOLA Soul Food so I was thrilled to be sent a copy of this cookbook for review from Ulysses Press. All the classic NOLA dishes are here and many unexpected more. You will learn how to prepare Crawfish, Roux, Andouille sausage stews, exotic drinks like the Hurricane, and fabulous sweets like the Beignets from Cafe du Monde.
Above is a picture of Marie and I enjoying these beignets. Again when we each ordered a plate at first we thought the portion was to big and we would not finish or plates. Wrong! We devoured our dessert greedily. And we went back every day for more. Next to us a lovely building from the French Quarter.
I am sure this is not the last recipe you will read here about from this cookbook but choosing to make the Myesha’s Muffuletta Olive Salad for this post was a no brainer for me. Everyone one should have a jar of this salad at home at all times in their fridge. The only thing I changed was the quantity of olive oil. This recipe (and all version of) use a massive amount of olive oil in my opinion, I cut it by a third and it was perfect for me.
Myesha's Muffuletta Olive Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted green olives
- 1 cup Kalamata or black olives
- 1 Cup fine cut gardiniera
- 2 tbsp capers drained and rinsed
- 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 4 tbsp thinly sliced celery
- 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano
- 2 tbsp thinly sliced green onions
- 1 4- oz jar pimientos peppers
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil recipe calls for 1 cup
- Salt & black pepper
Instructions
- Finely chop the green olives and the Kalamata or black olives. In a large bowl, stir together all the ingredients. Cover with the olive oil.
- Transfer the salad to a large jar with a lid. Refrigerate for at least 4 days, so the flavors have a chance to fully mingle, or up to 3 months.
I served my Olive Salad in a lighter fashion: a half slice of a French Bagette and a lovely French cheese called Saint-Nectaire (hints of hazelnut and mushrooms) which I popped in the oven for a few minutes. And stay tuned for an upcoming post soon for a really fantastic cocktail recipe made with Absinthe. I love that stuff.
Yum – Evelyne, olives and greens like these never fail to combine wonderfully! This is a great lunch idea or accompaniment to a larger dinner ensemble. Happy holidays to you and yours!
Hi Evelyne,
I hope you’re back to normal soon. I’ve loved this salad for a long time but never knew the name. Thanks! It looks like it was a fantastic trip. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your recipe! I did it at the weekend and my children loved it so much!
Always follow you and your post!
Sorry to hear that you’re sick, I’m just recovering myself.
That olive salad looks like something Theresa would enjoy though.
You know, I had never had a muffaletta until last year, can you imagine? I just had to see what all the fuss was about and it was great…but yours is all lovingly done up and homemade and I’ll be excited to try it soon!!!
Wow, Eve what great memories! I just recently had a huge hankering for a muffaletta sandwich. The pics, your description and the recipe are making my mouth water!
Thanks so much for posting the recipe. I will definitely have to get the book. I love the show Treme as well and want to return to NOLA again soon.
Take care of your health and keep bringing us these great posts!
Hugs.
Hope you are feeling much better. I have this cough that I can’t get rid of and with this holiday craziness I don’t seem to get enough rest to fully recover. It sucks to be sick this joyful time… Hope you will recover completely soon!
I’m not much of an olive fan (maybe I didn’t grow up with it) but I occasionally enjoy eating it on salad. This salad looks lovely! I have a friend who buys special kinds of olives and very familiar with olive. I bet he would love this salad! Will def pass this along to him!
That’s the salad I will enjoy tremendously!
Stay warm and healthy!
Hope you will be healthy for the rest of the winter! I adore olives and never even tried a muffuletta sandwich when I was in New Orleans! I might just take your cue and make these at home 🙂
I would like to do a similar kind of trip, trying regional foods etc. Seeing it on TV and reading about it is not enough…
This article is really, really good, Ev. I also love it that I can print the recipe solely by itself, which makes it easy to keep on hand.
This sandwich sounds so delicious, I know that I’ll love the taste.
Feel better Evelyne…the salad looks awesome, it sure reminds me of the ones that we had in New Orleans.
I hope you are feeling better!That salad sounds full of flavor….Delicious!
Man oh man do I love muffalettas!!! I dream of olive salad, I tell you and this looks great. I absolutely have to get a copy of this cookbook!!!
I’m drooling already just thinking about the muffeleta Ev! 😀 And I hope you’re feeling better. I seem to have the same thing too and it’s annoying 🙁