67goingon50's Pensioners' Muffletta, a multi-layered Italian-style sandwich for the dentally challenged, including toddlers, using soft bread & delcately textured lively fillings ...
It may look like a load of standard fillings but nearly every one has a taste twist that provides layers of stunning flavours |
That includes pensioners, the dentally challenged of all ages and toddlers.
Normal mufflettas use crispy topped panini or ciabatta with chewy interiors and layers of cold Italian charcuterie, olives and salad. They are, to be sure, fabulous.
But this one was a special treat for 4 delightful senior ladies at a picnic during the intermission of Macbeth at Keats House. With champers!
Readers, they were thrilled with it!
A small cholla loaf big enough for 8, soft but sturdy*, was filled with 6 layers of classic soft fillings but with unexpected twists.
The muffletta isn't frugul but nor is it extravagant, especially since the portions are loaded and 8 portions is not a small number.
The recipe may seem daunting but as long as you get everything ready (perhaps the previous day?) before you prepare and fill the bread, you will be fine.
- Prepare ingredient fillings the day or night before; cover; refrigerate till needed
- At least 2 hours before serving:
- Slice the top off the cholla bread about 1 inch/2cm in depth
- About 1.5 inches from the edge of the bottom, cut an inner ring of soft bread; remove all but a 1.5 inches/3m of the bottom (there should be a circular flat base in the bottom of the loaf-see photo abovew)
- Thoroughly dry lettuce leaves; line the base and half way up the sides with 2-3 pieces of lettuce, folding or tearing to fit
- Stir chicken pieces to prevent clumping; add only enough dressing to hold the contents together generously but not wet
- Cover with thinly sliced brie, leaving spaces if necessary to spread to edges
- Cover the brie layer entirely with slices of ham/pastrami; smear lightly with Dijon mustard
- Cover with a layer of lettuce reaching to the top of the loaf
- Pour ingredients for tuna dressing into a small jar with tight lid; shake until mixture thickens, set aside; mix tuna with rest of ingredients until well mixed; pour over dressing...the tuna mix will be a little dry which is as it should be. Spread evenly over lettuce; cover with cucumber slices if using
- Mix egg mayo with finely chopped sunblush tomato, adding a little of the juices if you like
- Cover egg with hummous; scatter over sunflower seeds
- Cover with soft dry lettuce; top with cholla lid
- Wrap twice in clingfilm; place on a tray
- Cover with a small tray holding a good sized book
- Refrigerate a few hours...no more than 4
- Slice into wedges on site
- replace chicken with tofu 'chicken' gougons
- replace ham with vegan deli ham (M&S/Waitrose) OR thinly sliced vegetarian frankfurthers (Tivali: Waitrose, Mr Mistry South End Green)
* small cholla loaf £3.90, Roni's Hampstead & Belsize Village
Notes: The muffuletta is an Italian sandwich that originated in the Italian immigrant community of New Orlean. It's always been hefty, initially with only has three components: bread, a spicy olive salad and Italian charcuterie. Nowadays there are many variations, including soft cheeses, cooked and raw vegetables and rich dressings.
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This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission
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