Rachael Ray: Rachael's Daytime Talkshow

Muffaletta-Stuffed Pizza Rustica

Aired on: June 21, 2011, January 25, 2011

The olive salad also makes a delicious sandwich spread!

Ingredients

For the olive salad:
About 1/2 cup pimento-stuffed olives or pitted Sicilian olives
About 1/4 cup pitted black olives
1 cup drained giardiniera (hot pickled vegetable salad)
1 tablespoon anchovy paste, optional
1 roasted red pepper, homemade or store-bought, chopped (homemade for me!)
2 large clove garlic, finely chopped or grated
A few leaves of basil
A scant handful of flat-leaf parsley
For the pizza:
2 1-pound balls pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
Flour, for rolling out dough
1/2 pound thinly sliced mozzarella or smoked mozzarella
1/3 pound sweet sopressata, thinly sliced
1/3 pound sliced hot ham, coppa or cappacolo
1/2 pound mortadella, thinly sliced
1/2 pound deli-sliced provolone cheese
EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for brushing
Sesame seeds

Yields: Serves 6-8

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°F.

In the bowl of a food processor, add olives, giardiniera, anchovy paste, roasted pepper, garlic, basil and parsley. Pulse to form a finely chopped relish.

On a floured surface, roll out doughs into 2 thin rounds. Transfer the first to an oil-brushed baking sheet. Top with a layer of olive salad, then even layers of cheeses and meats, leaving a 1-inch edge. Brush edges with water and top with remaining dough. Pinch all around to seal.

Brush with EVOO and sprinkle with sesame seeds. (Tip: Brush with egg wash for sesame seeds to really stick to the top!) Bake 20-25 minutes to deep golden. Let cool 10 minutes then cut into 8 wedges and serve with a green salad alongside.