Best 6 Muffaletta Salad Recipes

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## Muffaletta Salad: A New Orleans Classic, Now a Flavorful Salad

Originating from the heart of New Orleans, the muffaletta is a delectable sandwich bursting with bold flavors. This iconic dish consists of a fluffy sesame bread loaf, sliced meats, cheese, and a vibrant olive salad. The muffaletta salad, the star of this culinary journey, is a tantalizing blend of briny olives, crisp celery, piquant peppers, and aromatic herbs, all bound together with a tangy vinaigrette dressing. This versatile salad not only shines as a sandwich filling but also takes center stage as a standalone dish.

In this article, we present a collection of irresistible muffaletta salad recipes that capture the essence of this New Orleans treasure. From the classic muffaletta salad to variations that introduce exciting twists, these recipes cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Whether you seek a faithful recreation of the traditional recipe or crave a unique take on this beloved salad, you'll find inspiration and guidance within these pages.

## Classic Muffaletta Salad

This recipe stays true to the traditional muffaletta salad, featuring a harmonious balance of briny olives, crisp celery, piquant peppers, and aromatic herbs. The tangy vinaigrette dressing enhances the flavors of each ingredient, creating a symphony of flavors that will transport you to the vibrant streets of New Orleans.

## Muffaletta Salad with Roasted Red Peppers

This variation adds a smoky, sweet dimension to the classic muffaletta salad. Roasted red peppers, with their charred and caramelized notes, complement the briny olives and tangy vinaigrette beautifully. This salad is sure to impress your taste buds and leave you craving more.

## Muffaletta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

In this recipe, sun-dried tomatoes bring a burst of Mediterranean sunshine to the muffaletta salad. Their concentrated sweetness and tanginess add a delightful contrast to the salty olives and crisp vegetables. This salad is a perfect choice for those who love bold and flavorful dishes.

## Muffaletta Salad with Arugula

For a lighter and more refreshing take on the muffaletta salad, try this recipe that incorporates peppery arugula. The arugula's delicate bitterness balances the richness of the olives and cheese, while the vinaigrette dressing adds a touch of acidity. This salad is perfect for a quick and healthy lunch or as a side dish at your next gathering.

## Muffaletta Salad with Avocado

This recipe adds a creamy and velvety texture to the muffaletta salad with the inclusion of ripe avocado. The avocado's mild flavor allows the other ingredients to shine through, while its healthy fats make this salad a nutritious choice. This salad is sure to be a hit at your next potluck or picnic.

With these diverse and delectable muffaletta salad recipes, you can now recreate the flavors of New Orleans in your own kitchen. Whether you prefer the classic combination of ingredients or enjoy exploring new flavor combinations, these recipes offer something for everyone. So gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

MUFFALETTA PASTA SALAD



Muffaletta Pasta Salad image

The great New Orleans sandwich turned into an easy cold dish. You can serve this over a bed of lettuce with a slice of French bread to make it a meal versus a side dish.

Provided by Elisa Nuccio Holt

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound rotini pasta
5 ounces tapenade (olive spread), or more to taste
1 pinch ground black pepper to taste
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
8 ounces sliced salami, cut into thin strips
8 ounces sliced baked ham, cut into thin strips
1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed
4 ounces provolone cheese, cubed
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
¼ bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool.
  • Mix tapenade into pasta and season with pepper. Add artichoke hearts, salami, ham, olives, mozzarella cheese, provolone cheese, red bell pepper, and parsley to pasta mixture and toss to coat. Transfer salad to a serving bowl and top with sesame seeds.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 585.1 calories, Carbohydrate 51.6 g, Cholesterol 63.7 mg, Fat 29 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 28.6 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 1775.8 mg, Sugar 2.4 g

MUFFALETTA SALAD



Muffaletta Salad image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup mixed cracked good quality olives, coarsely chopped
2 cups giardiniera salad (pickled cauliflower, hot peppers and carrots), drained
5 to 6 ribs celery from the heart, chopped
1/4 cup soft sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 fresh green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 pound stick salami, diced
1/2 pound thick cut ham, chopped
1/2 pound provolone, chopped
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
Salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Combine olives, giardiniera, celery, sun-dried tomatoes, pepper, onion, salami, ham, and provolone. Dress with vinegar and olive oil, season with salt and pepper and let stand a few minutes before serving.

ELLEN'S MUFFALETTA PASTA SALAD



Ellen's Muffaletta Pasta Salad image

This salad has everything in the filling of a muffaletta sandwich but in pasta salad form! It is a great salad to take on a picnic and it has a nice variation of tastes on the tongue in each bite! It is one of our summer picnic staples!

Provided by Ellen Bancroft Ziegler

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Rotini Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 1h40m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup chopped pepperoncini
½ pound Genoa salami, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
½ pound Cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
⅓ pound provolone cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
½ sweet onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
½ cup 1/2-inch pieces pitted green olives
½ cup 1/2-inch pieces Kalamata olives
½ cup 1/2-inch pieces pepperoni
½ cup 1/2-inch pieces celery
½ cup chopped green bell pepper
½ cup chopped red bell pepper
½ (6 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 (8 ounce) bottle Italian-style salad dressing, or more to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini in boiling water until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain. Rinse pasta with cold water until chilled; drain.
  • Mix carrots, pepperoncini, Genoa salami, Cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, sweet onion, green olives, Kalamata olives, pepperoni, celery, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and artichoke hearts together in a large mixing bowl. Pour Italian-style salad dressing over the salad and toss to coat; add pasta and stir.
  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Stir salad and add more Italian-style dressing as needed if you find the salad too dry.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 720.5 calories, Carbohydrate 53.2 g, Cholesterol 86.7 mg, Fat 43.2 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 29.9 g, SaturatedFat 16.6 g, Sodium 2597.4 mg, Sugar 6.1 g

AMAZING MUFFALETTA OLIVE SALAD



Amazing Muffaletta Olive Salad image

This combines my love of the New Orleans-style olive salad that you find on muffaletta sandwiches and Italian olive tapenades. With so many olives how could you go wrong? I use it on fish, sandwiches, dips, and in herbed breads.

Provided by AZ

Categories     Salad     Vegetable Salad Recipes

Time 12h20m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained, brine reserved
1 (6 ounce) can pimento-stuffed green olives, drained, brine reserved
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped
¼ cup Italian dressing
2 tablespoons reserved olive brine, or as needed
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Place the black olives, pimento-stuffed green olives, artichoke hearts, onion, celery, garlic, and capers in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients are uniform in size, and no larger than a popcorn kernel. Stir in the Italian dressing. Add equal amounts of green and black olive brine as needed for a moist consistency. Season with salt and black pepper. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 39.4 calories, Carbohydrate 3.6 g, Fat 2.7 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 0.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 389.5 mg, Sugar 0.8 g

MUFFALETTA SALAD



Muffaletta Salad image

Provided by Guy Fieri

Categories     side-dish

Time 2h20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup olive juice from can
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1/2 cup diced black olives
1/2 cup diced green olives
1/2 cup diced marinated artichoke hearts, diced
1/2 cup roasted red bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 red onion, minced
3 cups cooked orzo
1 cup feta cheese
8 to 10 Bibb lettuce cups
1/2 cup diced Roma tomatoes

Steps:

  • In a food processor, combine the garlic, vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, olive juice, lemon juice, red chili flakes, pepper and all vegetables up to the red onion. Pulse until well chopped but not pureed. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, place into refrigerator and let marinate for 2 to 4 hours.
  • Add orzo to marinated vegetables, toss, then add feta and toss again.
  • Serve in lettuce cups and top with tomatoes.

NEW ORLEANS STYLE MUFFALETTA SALAD



NEW ORLEANS STYLE MUFFALETTA SALAD image

Categories     Olive     No-Cook     Low Carb

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 tablespoons garlic flavored grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 cup pimiento-stuffed olives, halved, divided
3/4 cup black olives, pitted, halved, and divided
3/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers, divided
9 cups romaine lettuce, torn
1 large tomato, cut into bite size pieces
4 ounces finely sliced hard salami, diced
4 ounces finely sliced pastrami, diced
4 ounces cheddar cheese, cubed
4 ounces Muenster cheese, cubed

Steps:

  • In small mixing bowl, mix grapeseed oil, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning. Mix well. Add 1/4 cup pimiento-stuffed olives, 1/4 cup black olives, and 1/4 cup roasted red peppers. Mix well and set aside. In large salad serving bowl, add lettuce, tomatoes, remaining pimiento-stuffed olives, remaining black olives, remaining roasted red peppers, salami, pastrami, cheddar cheese, and Muenster cheese. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality ingredients: The fresher and better quality the ingredients, the tastier the salad will be. Try to use ripe, in-season vegetables, and avoid using wilted or bruised greens.
  • Don't overdress the salad: A light dressing is all that is needed to enhance the flavors of the vegetables. Too much dressing can overwhelm the salad and make it soggy.
  • Add some crunch: To add texture and interest to the salad, try adding some crunchy elements like croutons, nuts, or seeds.
  • Make it a meal: Muffaletta salad can be served as a main course or a side dish. If you're serving it as a main course, add some protein, such as grilled chicken, fish, or tofu.
  • Enjoy it fresh: Muffaletta salad is best enjoyed fresh. If you need to make it ahead of time, store the dressing and salad separately and assemble just before serving.

Conclusion:

Muffaletta salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. It's perfect for a light and healthy lunch or dinner, and it's also a great dish to bring to a potluck or picnic. With its colorful ingredients and flavorful dressing, muffaletta salad is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.

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