Muffuletta-New Orleans Traditional Sandwich Bread

I have never really eaten a traditional muffuletta bread/sandwich but I have made this style bread over and over again in my home kitchen. It is easy to make and very tasty. I will make this style bread for Debbie at the JGUMBOS so she can sample my recipe and let me know if I am on the ball with my baking. Debbie is making her own Muffuletta for her sandwiches at JGumbos….let’s make a Muffuletta and then taste Debbi’s.

4 cups flour

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. honey

2 tsp active-dry yeast

1 1/2 cup water

1/4 cup sesame  seeds, raw hulled

Add flour salt, honey and yeast to the large bowl of your stand mixer.

Add the olive oil and water

Using the dough hook, mix dough and “knead” it with the dough hook several minutes

The dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl

Turn out onto floured surface and knead a few times.

Place dough in floured or food sprayed  mixing bowl

Cover with a kitchen towel (I use a dinner plate)

Allow dough to rise 90-120 minutes

Punch dough down with your hand and pop the air bubble inside the dough

Let rise again

Remove dough from bowl and shape into round 10″ x 1″ thick rolls

Spray each ball lightly with warm water

Place formed rolls on a baking sheet sprayed with a non stick food spray (I use PAM)

Sprinkle the rolls with sesame seeds

Let rolls proof in a warm area for 10 – 20 minutes.

Place the oven rack on middle position in the oven.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Bake 25 minutes or until rolls are nice and lightly brown

Remove and cool on rack