Pressed Italian Sandwiches

These hearty pressed Italian sandwiches are weighted to compress the layers, but we’ve found that stuffing the filled ciabatta loaf into a pack to tote to the beach or on the trail also does the trick nicely. If you’re taking these sandwiches camping, fill and cut the loaf before you leave the car or camp, then wrap the loaf in foil followed by a large resealable plastic bag.

1 ciabatta loaf (about 8 by 14 by 2 in.)

1/2 cup store-bought black or green olive tapenade

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 pound thinly sliced Genoa salami

3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto

1/4 pound thinly sliced spicy Italian cold cuts, such as coppa or capocolla

8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced

1 roasted red bell pepper, chopped

6 leaves fresh basil, torn into bite-size pieces

Freshly ground black pepper

Step 1

Cut ciabatta in half horizontally. Spread bottom half with tapenade. Drizzle cut side of top half with vinegar and oil.

Step 2

Arrange salami on top of tapenade, followed by the prosciutto, cold cuts, mozzarella, red pepper, and basil. Sprinkle with pepper to taste and place top half of loaf on filling.

Step 3

Wrap sandwich thoroughly with plastic wrap or foil. Place a heavy cutting board or other flat object on top of sandwich and weight it down with a 2- to 4-lb. weight (such as a large pot or six-pack of soda). Let sit 30 minutes to 2 hours. Unwrap, cut into eighths, and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
Calories 398Calories from Fat 66

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 29g45%

Saturated Fat 8.5g43%
Cholesterol 64mg22%
Sodium 1449mg61%
Total Carbohydrate 22g8%

Dietary Fiber 1.2g5%
Protein 20g40%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Pressed Italian Sandwiches