Muffuletta ormuffaletta is a type of roundSicilian sesame bread,[1] as well as a popular sandwich, created by a Sicilian immigrant to the United States, that was popularized in the city ofNew Orleans.
The name is believed to be adiminutive form ofmuffi ('mold', 'mushroom'), perhaps due to the round sandwich bread being reminiscent of a mushroom cap; more likely frommùffula, 'muff', 'mitten'.[2] Another theory suggests a possible French origin, considering that the word "mou" inFrench means "soft", referring to the tender and spongy texture of the bread. An alternative hypothesis points to a Saxon origin, due to the similarity with the English word "muffin", which refers to a small cake or bun, also known for its soft consistency. The formsmuffoletta and itsiterations are modernItalianisms of the originalSicilian. Like many of the foreign-influenced terms found in New Orleans, pronunciation has evolved from a phonetic forebear.
Depending on the specificSicilian dialect, the item may be spelled:
The muffuletta sandwich is said to have been created in 1906 atCentral Grocery Co. onDecatur Street,New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S., by itsdelicatessen owner Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant.[12][13] Sicilian immigrant Biaggio Montalbano, who was a delicatessen owner in New Orleans, is credited with invention of the Roma Sandwich, which may have been a forerunner of the muffuletta.[14] Another Italian-style New Orleans delicatessen, Progress Grocery Co., originally opened in 1924 by the Perrone family, claims the origin of the muffuletta is uncertain.[15]
The traditional-style muffuletta sandwich consists of a muffuletta loaf[16] split horizontally and covered with layers of marinated muffuletta-style olive salad,[17]salami,ham,Swiss cheese,provolone, andmortadella.[18] Quarter, half, and full-sized muffulettas are sold.[19][20]
The signature olive salad is a choppedsalad made from green olives, black olives, olive oil, celery, cauliflower, carrots, sweet peppers, onions,capers, parsley,peperoncini,oregano, garlic, vinegar, herbs, and spices. It is a "piquant salad" used as aspread.[21] Celery, cauliflower, and carrots are commonly found in the pickled form known asgiardiniera.[22] Capers andlemon juice may also be included.[23] It is commercially produced for restaurants and for retail sale.[24]
Muffuletta is usually served cold, but many vendors will toast it.[19]
^Lempert, Phil (September 17, 2007)."Is the best sandwich in America the muffaletta?".Today.MSNBC.Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. RetrievedMay 10, 2010.The secret ingredient, besides the special recipe for the sesame bread, is Central Grocery's homemade olive spread.
^"Olive Salad".Williams-Sonoma. 2023. RetrievedOctober 24, 2023.This piquant salad is an essential ingredient for the classic New Orleans sandwich known as muffuletta.
