A muffuletta is a large, round Italian-American sandwich from New Orleans, built on a Sicilian sesame bread loaf and layered with Italian cold cuts, cheese, and a chopped olive salad.
It was created in the early 20th century at Central Grocery in the French Quarter by Sicilian immigrant Salvatore Lupo. The bread is sliced horizontally and filled with meats such as salami, ham, and mortadella, provolone or Swiss cheese, and an olive salad of olives, celery, and peppers dressed in Italian vinaigrette; the sandwich is typically assembled ahead and served at room temperature so the olive salad's oil and brine soak into the bread.
Muffuletta is a New Orleans specialty found at delis and Italian restaurants throughout the city, and the olive salad alone is often sold and used as a spread, dip, or pizza topping.