Sicilian Muffulette while in New Orleans
Muffulette in Sicily have no resemblance to the Muffulette in the USA. However, since we have so many Sicilian Immigrants in the USA and since our version was created by a Sicilian Immigrant, Mr. Salvatore Lupo, I thought it would be interesting to share this on Sicilian Food Culture! He created this amazing Sandwich in New Orleans in a thriving Sicilian community in a neighbourhood at the time that was called Little Palermo within the French Quarter.
It all started at his Sicilian/Italian Market called Central Grocery which still stands today founded in 1906. It’s a favourite market of mine and I never miss it when in New Orleans. My big Sicilian family loves to make them a couple of times a year and everyone enjoys them and they are so much fun to make and eat. The only connection to the Sicilian Muffuletta I believe is the bread used, a round roll loaded with Sesame Seeds typically Sicilian in that regard.
You pile it high with various Italian Cured Meats in our case we used Dry Italian Salami, Hot and Sweet Soppressata, Dried Coppa, Mortadella with Pistachio and Provolone Cheese. You then top it with a delicious Cracked Sicilian Olive Salad loaded with Olive Oil to marinate the Sandwich that also has Kalamata Olives, Giardiniera, Capers, Celery, Garlic, Roasted Bell Peppers, Parsley, Oregano, Hot Pepper Flakes, Red Wine Vinegar. It varies according to preference or you can just buy the Olive Salad already prepared from Central Grocer which in my opinion is the best.
If you are a Sicilian living in the homeland, or a Sicilian living in the US (or anywhere else in the world for that matter) to love the Muffuletta is in our DNA
Buon Appetito!
I love Muffulettes from Central grocery. I am way overdue for another.
We just picked up one on Sunday to eat after the Saints game. It’s fantastic warmed a little. Yum.
Visited New Orleans 10 yrars ago, went to Central Grocery & had a muffeletta! Luv’d it … time for another visit… I also learned about the Sicilian immigrant community in the Big Easy… who knew!! I thought we all lived in NYC!! Gotta go back…
My Great-Grandfather sold olive oil, olives etc in New Orleans and settled there before coming to New York. Now we are all in Florida. Eating all the good Italian food follows wherever we go ! lol
Central grocery Muffuletta best sandwich on the planet!
Looks yummy, my husband loved them
I live in NJ and just recently ordered muffuletta from the Cental Grocery for Mardi Gras! It was delivered by Goldbelly. Check out the Central Grocery on Facebook and you can get stuff delivered anywhere!
I shopped at Central Grocery many years ago, and from time to time I purchase from them online.
I so do miss New Orleans, the people, the history, the food!!
I’m not taking it away from Sicilian but I’m not Sicilian and believe me in our home we make those all the time delicious
I am familiar with the New Orleans version. Would like to know what the Sicilian version is like.
My mom, Mary Palermo, use to send me down to Central Grocery on Saturday mornings to buy olive salad, some meats and cheese. Then I would walk a couple of doors down to a bakery to get fresh, hot bread…this was our lunch. I was 11 the first time she sent me alone to the Quarter…boy do I miss her and those good old days.