I have been making muffalettas at home since I have been to New Orleans. I get the olive salad every time someone I know goes there. I also can get the meats and provolone. I have not been able to get the right bread. Can anyone recommend a bakery in MA or NH for a good round, somewhat flat bread? I have checked the local Market Basket and Hannaford. It is not a boule bread. Please help.

What about a Portugese sweet bread?

shaz60 -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Muffaletta Bread

1 cup warm water (110 degrees) 1 Tbsp. sugar 1 package active dry yeast (about 1 Tbsp.) 3 cups bread flour 1 1/2 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. vegetable shortening Sesame seeds

In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, combine water and sugar. Stir in yeast. Let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes. In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine 3 cups flour, salt and shortening. Add yeast mixture. Process until dough forms a ball, about 5 seconds. Stop machine; check consistency of dough. It should be smooth and satiny. If dough is too dry, add more warm water, 1 Tbsp. at a time, processing just until blended. If dough is too sticky, add more flour, 1 or 2 Tbsp. at a time, processing just until blended. Process 20 seconds to knead.

Lightly oil a large bowl, swirling to coat bottom and sides. Place dough in oiled bowl; turn to coat all sides. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

Lightly grease a baking sheet. When dough has doubled in bulk, punch down dough; turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Form dough into round loaf about 10 inches in diameter; place on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle top of loaf with sesame seeds; press seeds gently into surface of loaf. Cover very loosely with plastic wrap; let rise until almost doubled in bulk, 1 hour. Place rack in center of oven.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove plastic wrap. Bake loaf in center of preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees; bake 25 minutes. The loaf is done when it sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.

Cool completely on a rack before slicing. Makes 1 loaf.

Source: Breadrecipe.com

I can't help you with the bread. But do you have a Trader Joe's near you? If so, they sell the olive salad. Or at least I know they used to. Thought you might want to know that just in case you run out and don't know anyone going to NO soon!

Thanks to all. I will try the recipe for the bread. I think that the Portuguese sweet bread is too sweet for muffaletta but I love it. I have bought the olive salad at Trader Joe's and it is good but not quite the same. Maybe it is just the memory and company of the food you get. I am still longing for the original. Thanks again.

By the way, I was complaining to my husband about not being able to get the bread right. He said,"Why don't you ask all those Fodor's people you are always reading about?" You all proved us both right.

Shaz, lol ~ when I saw this thread's title (and since I had no idea that there was such a bread) I thought for sure it was posted by, dare I say, Muffin!

"Ask all those Fodor's people"...Scary, My DH says that to me too sometimes.

I tried to print this recipe but ended up printing the United States board. How can I print just the recipe or do I have to write it down?

Oh seetheworld if only my life was half as exciting as the infamous Muffin's, I would be a happy well dressed fabulous girl!

Shaz, try *highlighting*, *copying* and *pasting* onto Word.

shaz, try the boston board on
chowhound.com. I'm in Boston and don't know but someone there will.

If you have an Italian restaurant I would ask them. Maybe you could interest a local bakery in your area to start making it. Haydel's bakery (right out of NO) makes the best mini muffalettas for parties. Shouldn't be that hard since you now have a recipe. You might start a fashion up there!

shaz60 - Here is the web address for the bread recipe.
http://www.chefrick.com/html/muffbread.html

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate the help.