Driving along any of Italy’s freeways, you might pull over at the Autogrill to fill up your gas tank. Walk past the patrons casually smoking cigarettes at an alarmingly close range and head inside for what might surprise you to be one of the best lunches of your trip. Sandwiched between two airy slices of fresh-baked focaccia, thin shavings of mortadella, creamy burrata, and sweet pistachios come together in a light and savory symphony. Grab yourself an espresso to finish, and you’re ready to hit the road again.
We've recreated this iconic Italian mortadella sandwich recipe. With a slathering of herbaceous pesto and healthy drizzle of peppery olive oil, it's fresh and sustaining all at once. And while we can't recommend a visit to the Autogrill more enthusiastically, savoring this gorgeous focaccia sandwich on a sunny picnic blanket rather than on the side of the highway might just be a winning idea. You might want to bring some taralli for a crunchy side.
THE AUTOGRILL MORTADELLA SANDWICH
Serves 2
INGREDIENTS
▢ 2 6"x4" slices of Focaccia, cut in half through the airy center
▢ 4 oz freshly sliced mortadella
▢ 1 large ball burrata
▢ 1/4 cup pistachios, roughly chopped
▢ 2 tbsp Basil Almond Pesto
▢ EVOO to drizzle
DIRECTIONS
- Spread 1 tbsp Basil Almond Pesto on the bottom slice of focaccia for both sandwiches.
- Fold 2 oz of the shaved mortadella on top of each.
- Tear the burrata in half and spread half on top of the mortadella on each sandwich.
- Sprinkle with roughly chopped pistachios, drizzle with EVOO, and top with the other half of the focaccia.
- Mangiamo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good substitute for Focaccia?
While this is a traditional Italian focaccia sandwich, you could certainly swap focaccia for ciabatta. You could also use a good sour dough bread.
Can I make this sandwich vegetarian?
While mortadella is the shining star of this sandwich, you can certainly swap it out for something vegetarian. We'd recommend shaved grilled zucchini or thinly shaved and grilled eggplant.
Can I substitute a different cheese for the burrata?
Of course! You can use regular sliced mozzarella, or fresh ricotta. Cottage cheese is another great alternative to burrata for this recipe.
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