Giant Muffaletta Italian Sandwich

Here is The Times’s take on a classic Italian sandwich, built between slices of ham, airy sesame bread loaf, and layered thick with olive salad. It is among the best picnic sandwiches on the planet.

Ingredients:

• 1 large round Italian bread loaf (about 10 inches in diameter)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 lb thinly sliced turkey ham
• 1/4 lb thinly sliced beef salami
• 1/4 lb thinly sliced mortadella
• 1/4 lb sliced provolone cheese
• 1/4 lb sliced mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup olive salad (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut the bread loaf in half horizontally to create top and bottom halves.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red grape juice, oregano, and basil.
3. Brush this mixture generously on both cut sides of the bread.
4. On the bottom half of the bread, layer ingredients in this order: turkey ham, beef salami, mortadella, provolone, and mozzarella.
5. Spread the olive salad evenly over the cheese layer. If using, add pepperoncini peppers on top.
6. Place the top half of the bread on the sandwich and press down gently.
7. Wrap the entire sandwich tightly in plastic wrap.
8. Place a heavy weight (like a cast-iron skillet) on top of the wrapped sandwich and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. This helps compress the sandwich and allows flavors to meld.
9. Before serving, unwrap the sandwich and cut it into wedges.

Tips:

1. For extra flavor, let the sandwich sit overnight.
2. Use a sharp knife to get clean wedges.
3. Perfect for picnics or a hearty lunch!

ENJOY!!