Make-It Monday: You Guava Be Kidding Me Muffaletta

Savory, salty, sweet, and fire-breathing—this sandwich brings the party.
Serves: 4–6 | Prep time: 20 min | Rest time: 1–4 hours

Why This Works:

A muffaletta is already a flavor bomb of cured meats, cheese, and olive salad. You Guava Be Kidding Me adds a tangy, fruity, searing-hot layer that cuts through the fat and amplifies everything. The balance of sweetness and burn from the guava and reaper pepper is the twist you didn’t know this sandwich needed.

Ingredients:

For the olive salad:

• 1 cup mixed olives, pitted and chopped
• 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1/4 cup chopped celery (optional but traditional)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1–2 teaspoons You Guava Be Kidding Me (adjust to heat tolerance)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the sandwich:

• 1 round loaf of Italian bread or focaccia (about 9–10 inches wide)
• 1/4 lb sliced mortadella
• 1/4 lb sliced salami
• 1/4 lb sliced ham or capicola
• 1/4 lb sliced provolone or mozzarella
• Optional: arugula or shredded lettuce

Instructions:

1. Make the olive salad.
   Combine all olive salad ingredients in a bowl. Stir well and let sit at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 days refrigerated) for flavors to meld.
2. Prep the bread.
   Slice the loaf in half horizontally. If the bread is thick, scoop out a bit of the soft interior to make room for the filling.
3. Assemble the sandwich.
   Spread half the olive salad on the bottom half of the bread. Layer on the meats and cheeses. Top with the rest of the olive salad and greens if using. Finish with the top half of the bread.
4. Press and rest.
   Wrap the sandwich tightly in foil or parchment, place it on a baking sheet, and weigh it down with a heavy pan or books. Refrigerate 1–4 hours to let everything meld.
5. Serve.
   Slice into wedges and serve cold or at room temperature. It gets better with time.

Tips for Success:

• Muffalettas are meant to be a little messy. That’s the joy.
• For a milder kick, mix the sauce with extra olive oil before adding.
• This sandwich travels beautifully—great for picnics, parties, or road trips.