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These Italian Sandwiches with Olive Tapenade are loaded with Italian cold cuts and cheese, then topped with a yummy olive spread.
Table of Contents
- Ingredients in Italian Sandwiches with Olive Tapenade
- Olive Tapenade
- Additional Toppings for Italian Sandwiches
- Questions About Italian Sandwiches
- Other Sandwiches to Try
- How to Make Italian Sandwiches with Olive Tapenade
- Italian Sandwiches with Olive Tapenade Recipe
- Additional Toppings for Italian Sandwiches
This is one of my favorite lunches, and the perfect thing to take out to a picnic or eat at home for a casual meal. These Italian sandwiches are loaded with thin-sliced salami and thick slices of provolone cheese, then topped with an easy yummy olive tapenade spread (which is amazing if you have never tried it!) and arugula lettuce.
Ingredients in Italian Sandwiches with Olive Tapenade
- Bread – we like to use a Ciabatta loaf, but you can use rustic Italian bread, hoagie rolls, or toasted soft Italian bread. You can also use our homemade Rosemary Parmesan Focaccia Bread.
- Genoa Salami
- Provolone Cheese
- Kalamata Olives
- Balsamic Vinegar – not balsamic vinaigrette, just plain balsamic vinegar
- Arugula – toss the arugula with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar for extra flavor!
Olive Tapenade
Making an olive tapenade certainly sounds fancy, but I promise you, it’s oh-so-easy. Plus, this spread will take your sandwich to the next level in the best way! To make the tapenade, finely chop pitted olives. Then mix in some balsamic vinegar. That’s it! It’s totally simple but you’ll make this recipe again and again. Olive tapenade also makes a great spread for crackers or crusty bread. You can also use it as a vegetable dip!
NOTE: If you are making the sandwiches to go out rather than eat immediately, pack the tapenade separately, then spread it on the Italian sandwich right before you eat.
Additional Toppings for Italian Sandwiches
- Sliced Tomato
- Roasted Red Peppers
- Red Onions
- Pepperoncini
- Prosciutto
- Pepperoni
- Mortadella
- Fresh Mozzarella
- Fresh Basil
- Pesto
Questions About Italian Sandwiches
This recipe has olive tapenade as a condiment, but a lot of Italian sandwiches have a mix of olive oil, red wine vinegar, and oregano.
Sometimes we place the cheese and meat on the bottom half of the bread and then we broil it for a few minutes to melt the cheese. You can also use a panini press.
Usually you will see salami, prosciutto, mortadella, ham, and capicola on an Italian sub.
Read Next: 35+ Easy Lunch Ideas (Quick, Easy & Healthy)
Other Sandwiches to Try
How to Make Italian Sandwiches with Olive Tapenade
Italian Sandwiches with Olive Tapenade
Ingredients
- 4 rolls of Ciabatta Bread or Rustic Italian Bread
- 1/3 pound Salami Thin Sliced
- 8 slices Provolone Cheese
- 1/2 cup Kalamata Olives Pitted, the kind in a jar
- ¼ cup Balsamic Vinegar not vinaigrette
- 1 cup Arugula Lettuce
Instructions
- Finely chop the Kalamata Olives and mix in a generous amount of Balsamic Vinegar for the tapenade.
- Spread a good amount on the bread and top with the lettuce, cheese, and salami.
- If you are packing this sandwich for lunch or an outing, wait to spread on the tapenade until just before eating.
Notes
Additional Toppings for Italian Sandwiches
- Sliced Tomato
- Roasted Red Peppers
- Red Onions
- Pepperoncini
- Prosciutto
- Pepperoni
- Mortadella
- Fresh Mozzarella
- Fresh Basil
- Pesto
Delicious sandwich which is simple and very easy to prepare. This is a sandwich that you and your family and friends will want time and time again.
Yum! I made these last night and they are so good! Thanks so much for posting the recipe! 🙂
One nice thing is that our Walmart sells red, green or black tapenade. Might save a little chopping – I hate that part 🙂
Sandwiches like this are the food of the Gods – quick, tasty, cheap. Hold the onions.