Sandwiches
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[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

Note: This recipe will produce far more olive salad than you need for one sandwich. Extra salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month. Use it in more sandwiches, classic muffulettas, to top pizzas or burgers, or to stir into pasta sauces.

About the author: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is the Chief Creative Officer of Serious Eats where he likes to explore the science of home cooking in his weekly column The Food Lab. You can follow him at @thefoodlab on Twitter, or at The Food Lab on Facebook.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: Makes 1 sandwich and enough olive salad for at least 4 sandwiches
Active time: 15 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • For the Olive Salad:
  • 3/4 cup pitted mixed oil-packed olives
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers
  • 2 tablespoons parsley leaves
  • 1/2 cup giardiniera (Italian-style pickled vegetable salad, see note)
  • 1 medium garlic clove, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  •  
  • For the Sandwich:
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut into three even pieces
  • 2 slices hearty white bread, such as Pepperidge Farm or Arnold, or 2 slices hearty French or Italian bread
  • 2 slices mild Provolone cheese
  • 3 slices sweet soppressata
  • 3 slices mortadella
  • 3 slices hot capicola
  • Kosher salt

Procedures

  1. For the Olive Salad: Combine olives, capers, peppers, parsley, giardiniera, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to chop until no pieces larger than 1/2-inch remain. Transfer to a bowl. Add vineger and olive oil and stir to combine. For best results, let olive salad rest overnight before continuing to step 2.

  2. For the Sandwich: Melt one third of butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until foaming subsides. Add both bread slices and cook, swirling occasionally, until pale golden brown on bottom side, about 2 minutes.

  3. Transfer to a cutting board toasted-side-up with one slice of cheese on top. Spread a layer of olive salad across bread with a spoon, then top with slices of cured meats followed by second cheese slice. Close sandwich, with both toasted sides facing inwards.

  4. Melt one more piece of butter in the skillet and reduce heat to medium low. Add sandwich and cook, swirling occasionally, until deep, even golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove sandwich using a flexible metal spatula. Add the remaining butter. Return sandwich to skillet cooked-side up. Season with salt. Cook, swirling occasionally, until second side is deep, even golden brown and cheese is thoroughly melted, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.