The Louisiana sandwich made with a round sesame loaf, olive salad, cold cuts, and cheese is the muffuletta.
The muffuletta is associated with New Orleans and is traditionally assembled on a large, round, sesame-seeded loaf. Its filling commonly includes layers of Italian meats such as salami, ham, and mortadella, along with cheeses and a distinctive olive salad.
The olive salad is central to the sandwich’s identity. It generally combines chopped olives with vegetables, herbs, garlic, and oil, and it benefits from resting so the flavors meld into the bread and filling.
The muffuletta is often confused with the po’boy, another famous New Orleans sandwich. A po’boy is usually served on French bread and may contain fried seafood or roast beef. The muffuletta’s round loaf, Italian-style meats, cheese, and olive salad distinguish it clearly.