Let's Talk BBQ

Recipes => Recipes => Baker's Corner => Topic started by: bbqchef on March 01, 2014, 05:19:31 PM

Title: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: bbqchef on March 01, 2014, 05:19:31 PM

Muffuletta Bread

The muffuletta is a signature sandwich from New Orleans with olive salad, cappicola, Swiss and Provolone cheese, hard salami and mortadella. While it’s easy to replicate at home, it’s difficult to find muffuletta bread outside of NOLA so I decided to make my own. I’m the first to admit I am not a baker… baking is science and your measurements have to be accurate; I prefer free-style cooking! (I'll post the full muffuletta recipe later.)

1 cup lukewarm (110 degrees F.) water
1/4 ounce (about 1 tablespoon) dry yeast
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
3 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 egg
2 tablespoons cold water
2 to 3 tablespoons sesame seeds

Combine the water and sugar in a two-cup measuring cup. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the yeast, stir, and allow the yeast to bloom for ten minutes.

Combine the flour, salt and shortening in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Using a dough hook, combine the ingredients. Add the yeast mixture and process until the dough forms a ball, about six to eight minutes. (If the dough is too dry, add more warm water, one tablespoon at a time. If it is too sticky, add more flour, one tablespoon at a time.)

Lightly oil a large bowl coating the bottom and sides. Place the dough in the bowl, covering all sides with the oil. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. (I set my oven on warm and when it comes to temperature I turn it off and place the bowl in the oven.)

Lightly grease a baking sheet. When the dough has doubled in size punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into two round loafs about eight to ten inches in diameter and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet. Let the dough rise for another hour.

Mix the egg and water together in a small bowl. Brush the egg mixture atop the loaf and sprinkle the top of the loaf with sesame seeds. Press the seeds into the loaf.

Cover with plastic wrap and allow the loaf to double in size, about one hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the plastic wrap and bake the loaf for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes. (The bread should have an internal temperature of 200 to 210 degrees and have a hollow sound when tapped.)

Cool on a wire rack completely before slicing in half lengthwise for the muffuletta.

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q616/bbqchef/afterbloomingenhancedwm.jpg)

Yeast blooming... ready to be added to the flour

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q616/bbqchef/proofingenhancedwm.jpg)

Ready for the first proofing

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q616/bbqchef/secondproofingenhancedwm.jpg)

After the first proofing

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q616/bbqchef/readyforsecondproofenhancedwm.jpg)

Ready for the second proofing

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q616/bbqchef/sesameencrustedenhancedwm.jpg)

Brushed with egg wash and coated with sesame seeds

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q616/bbqchef/finishedloafenhancedwm.jpg)

Done!

Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: CDN Smoker on March 01, 2014, 05:22:35 PM
I think your on automatic bookmark, can't wait for the follow up.  ;D
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: sliding_billy on March 01, 2014, 05:49:51 PM
If I pretend the sesame seeds are something else, I won't die from eating it.  ;D
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on March 01, 2014, 09:04:23 PM
You're teasing my hometown taste buds again.  If you make a Muffaletta anywhere near the way they do them at Central Grocery you got a winner.  It looks as if you are off to a good start.   ;D
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: HighOnSmoke on March 01, 2014, 09:13:04 PM
I think your on automatic bookmark, can't wait for the follow up.  ;D

Totally agree! Over half my bookmarks are from Chef!  ;)
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: Smokin Don on March 02, 2014, 01:23:04 AM
Yea that should make some great sandwiches!!! Don
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: africanmeat on March 02, 2014, 06:45:20 AM
Yea that should make some great sandwiches!!! Don

With good pastrami .
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: TwoPockets on March 02, 2014, 09:59:39 AM
I love a good Muffuletta sandwich. They are hard to find up here in Alabama, and by the time you find and buy all the ingredients they are too expensive to make at home.
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: Pam Gould on March 02, 2014, 10:09:02 AM
I love a good Muffuletta sandwich. They are hard to find up here in Alabama, and by the time you find and buy all the ingredients they are too expensive to make at home.
Maybe we should make some at the gathering..just saying. Like we don't have enough food there.   .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: bbqchef on March 02, 2014, 03:58:12 PM
It's not that expensive... I figure about $20 per Muff... That's only $5 per serving... Less expensive than an Italian sub from the local pizza joint (IMHO).
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: TwoPockets on March 02, 2014, 04:14:08 PM
It's not that expensive... I figure about $20 per Muff... That's only $5 per serving... Less expensive than an Italian sub from the local pizza joint (IMHO).

But there are only two of us and half a muff is all we can eat, well back in the day I could eat a whole one by myself. We had a good authentic NOLA style restaurant near us a few years back that made them just as good as in New Orleans.
Title: Re: Muffuletta Bread
Post by: spuds on March 11, 2014, 06:06:18 PM
I do rounds and loaves like french bread.There is no better sandwich than a muffuletta IMO.