Ciabatta Sandwich | The Raw Recipe

By admin On Nov 20, 2022

By
On November 20, 2022

This ciabatta sandwich is a quick meal full of flavor that is sure to satisfy! Soft and chewy ciabatta bread is topped with quality turkey and salami on a bed of mozzarella and pesto for the perfect bite every time.

Sandwiches don’t have to be ham and cheese every time. There are so many combinations that make sandwiches a fun way to get a variety of flavors quickly and easily. You can also change the type of bread you make it with for even more options. If you like to bake bread, this homemade bread recipe is way better than store bought and makes your house smell fantastic! The sourdough bread is also one of my favorites for a sandwich, and if you don’t have a starter yet, don’t worry! I have a recipe here too.

Ciabatta bread sandwich

Let’s talk ciabatta! If you haven’t had it before, you’re in for a treat. This is SO tasty bread and it makes the ultimate sandwich. Ciabatta bread is a yeast dough full of air that makes the holes. It’s also full of delicious savory flavors and a nice crispy crust. You could compare it to a French baguette but it’s much wider. It is different from focaccia because it has a hard crust and a different flavor, but it is similar in size and shape.

This Ciabatta Bread Sandwich is so easy to make and is the perfect meal to feed a party of 6 people. The bread can be sliced evenly into 6 large portions that will satisfy everyone and want another piece at the same time. My kids definitely love this sandwich. They either ask for a Monte Cristo or this ciabatta sandwich! You’ll want to save this recipe for later.

Ingredients

A sandwich is literally whatever you want it to be! You can assemble this sandwich any way you like, but this is my favorite way to do it. I love each of these ingredients that go into this ciabatta sandwich because they are fresh and full of flavor. See recipe card below for exact measurements.

Ciabatta bread: Ciabatta is a delicious and flavorful bread. It usually has a harder crust and lots of holes inside. It has a soft, chewy texture and makes great sandwich bread!
Pesto sauce: Pesto is a basil-based sauce that is so delicious and full of flavor. The one I make at home also contains pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil, which is found in most store-bought pestos. It’s really easy to make at home and I always feel like it tastes better when it’s homemade!
Turkey delicatessen: Any sliced turkey will do, I love that they slice it fresh for me at the deli.
Italian dry salami: The salami is such a unique flavor and really makes this sandwich stand out. It is a cured meat, so it has a great salty and savory flavor.
Tomato: Fresh tomato adds moisture and lots of flavor to this sandwich.
Mozzarella cheese: You can buy mozzarella cheese logs in the cheese section of the grocery store. It is a soft cheese with the perfect flavor to accompany turkey and pesto.
Fresh basil leaves: I like to add extra fresh basil on top to really bring all the flavors together. You can leave this out if you want or add other herbs or vegetables like spinach!

Process photos showing pesto on two pieces of ciabatta, then mozzarella added, then turkey and salami, finally basil and tomato.

Ciabatta sandwich recipe

I know everyone knows how to make a sandwich! But there’s actually a science to how a sandwich is put together. They totally researched it! Your tongue will taste different flavor combinations depending on how the sandwich is put together. I love this flavor combo because you taste pesto and cheese, then delicious meats, ending with fresh tomatoes. You can put it together however you want, it’s just my favorite way.

Slice: Slice the ciabatta bread horizontally to assemble the sandwich face open.
Add the pesto: Spread the pesto sauce on both sides of the bread.
Layer: Spread the mozzarella cheese slices on the bottom half of the bread.
Add meat: Next, layer the turkey and salami.
Add toppings: Add the sliced tomatoes and fresh basil leaves.
Enjoy: Close the sandwich carefully and cut it into small pieces to enjoy!

Ciabatta sandwich on a counter with pesto in the background.

Additions and Substitutions

If you don’t like tomatoes, you don’t have to put any on your ciabatta sandwich! This sandwich can be anything you want, so get creative and don’t worry about making it right. It will be delicious when you put what you like in it!

Salt and pepper: You can add freshly ground pepper and a pinch of salt on top of this sandwich before closing it if you wish. I didn’t because I feel like the salami already adds enough of those flavors.
Leafy vegetables: Some of you may want leafy greens on your sandwich like lettuce, spinach, or arugula. All of these would be great additions! You can also add any vegetable you want to this sandwich, there are no rules.
Different cheeses: If you’re not a fan of mozzarella, you’re in luck because there are so many cheeses that would go well in this sandwich. I could choose provolone or swiss, but you could do white cheddar or gouda. If you like goat cheese, this would be perfect! Just choose the cheese you prefer and I bet it will be delicious!

Sandwich on a plate with potato chips and basil on the side.

Storing leftovers

Like most sandwiches, this ciabatta sandwich is best eaten fresh. You can store this assembled sandwich for a few days in the fridge, but I suggest leaving it unassembled until you’re ready to eat it.

In the refrigerator: You can wrap your leftover sandwich in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. The bread will start to get soggy from the pesto and tomato, so I recommend eating it fairly soon after making it.

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