Compact Picnic Loaf

Pressed Brick Sandwich is not just a meal; it’s an experience. Imagine layers of the finest Italian deli meats, creamy cheeses, rich olive paste, and vibrant vegetables, all harmoniously compacted into a portable, flavor-packed delight. This isn’t just any sandwich; it’s a culinary masterpiece perfectly crafted for any occasion where delicious, easy-to-transport food is a must. Whether you’re planning an energetic game day tailgate, a tranquil picnic in the park, or a long-awaited road trip adventure, this incredible sandwich promises to be the star of your spread.

Prepare to be amazed by this delectable Italian Picnic Sandwich, designed to elevate your next summer outing or sporting event gathering. Its unique preparation method and robust flavors ensure that you’ll be completely captivated from the very first bite!

Why This Pressed Brick Sandwich Is a Must-Make

In a world full of ordinary sandwiches, the Pressed Brick Sandwich stands out as an extraordinary creation. It’s more than just bread and fillings; it’s a testament to thoughtful preparation and robust flavors. Here’s why this recipe deserves a permanent spot in your culinary repertoire:

• Explosion of Flavor in Every Bite: This sandwich isn’t shy on taste. Each layer contributes to a symphony of flavors – from the savory richness of Italian meats to the sharp tang of cheeses, the briny kick of olive paste, and the fresh zest of herbs and vinaigrette. It’s a delightful journey for your palate, ensuring every bite is as exciting as the last.
• Remarkably Adaptable to Your Taste: One of the greatest virtues of the Pressed Brick Sandwich is its inherent flexibility. While our recipe offers a phenomenal combination, it serves as a canvas for your culinary creativity. Feel free to swap in your preferred sandwich meats, experiment with various cheeses, or incorporate different vegetables and spreads. This adaptability ensures that the sandwich can be tailored to any dietary preference or craving, making it a truly universal crowd-pleaser.
• Travel-Friendly and Mess-Free: The genius of the “pressed brick” method lies in its practicality. By compressing the sandwich with weight (like bricks or a heavy skillet), the fillings are snugly bound together, minimizing the chances of a soggy mess or ingredients shifting around. This means your sandwich arrives at its destination – be it a picnic blanket, a tailgate party, or a lunchbox – perfectly intact and ready to be enjoyed. Say goodbye to squashed sandwiches in your cooler!
• Ideal for Make-Ahead Preparations: This sandwich is a dream come true for hosts and busy individuals. The pressing process actually improves the sandwich, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen over time. You can assemble it hours, or even a day, in advance, freeing up valuable time on the day of your event. This convenience makes it perfect for stress-free entertaining or hassle-free meal prep.
• Visually Impressive Presentation: When sliced, the Pressed Brick Sandwich reveals beautiful, tightly packed layers of vibrant ingredients. Its substantial, appealing appearance makes it a standout dish, guaranteed to impress your guests and spark conversations. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the stomach!

My inspiration for this delightful creation stems from a chilly autumn adventure. Last fall, we embarked on a trip to Indiana University for a football game against my alma mater. The morning kicked off with sleet, a truly unwelcome sign for someone like me who despises the cold. The moment we pulled into the stadium parking lot, we rendezvoused with our friends and made a hasty dash to the gift shop, desperate for hats and scarves to fend off the biting weather.

Among our friends was my sweet Italian friend, who arrived bearing her legendary stromboli, a masterpiece packed with succulent meats and cheeses. Her creation was truly world-famous in our circle, and I yearned to recreate it. However, the elusive scrap of paper bearing her cherished recipe was, as fate would have it, buried somewhere deep within my kitchen, undoubtedly under a year’s worth of print-offs and forgotten notes. Faced with this dilemma, I decided to revisit an old favorite for that week’s tailgate: a brilliant pressed brick sandwich, a concept originally inspired by the culinary genius Martha Stewart. This particular iteration was bursting with an array of Mediterranean delights, including sweet roasted peppers, tender marinated artichokes, thinly sliced salami, delicate prosciutto, and creamy Provolone. It proved to be the perfect, hearty antidote to the frosty game day.

Essential Ingredient Notes for Your Pressed Brick Sandwich

The beauty of this Pressed Brick Sandwich lies in the quality and combination of its ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in creating a harmonious and unforgettable flavor profile. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and some helpful tips:

• Kitchen Staples: These foundational ingredients form the backbone of our vinaigrette and seasoning.
  • Olive Oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor in your vinaigrette.
  • Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the natural flavors of all the ingredients. Always use fresh pepper for maximum aroma.
  • Dijon Mustard: Adds a zesty tang and acts as an emulsifier for the vinaigrette, helping to bind the oil and vinegar.
  • Balsamic Vinegar: Provides a sweet and acidic counterpoint, balancing the richness of the meats and cheeses.
• Roasted Red Bell Peppers: These add a wonderful sweetness and smoky depth. You can opt for convenience with good quality jarred roasted red peppers, making sure to drain them well. Alternatively, roasting your own bell peppers at home will provide an even richer, more personalized flavor. Slice them into ¾-inch strips for easy layering.
• Prosciutto: This thinly sliced, dry-cured Italian ham offers a delicate, salty, and slightly sweet flavor. Packaged prosciutto is usually cut paper-thin, which is ideal for this sandwich as it melts beautifully into the layers without being chewy.
• Genoa Salami: A classic Italian deli meat, Genoa salami brings a rich, savory, and slightly tangy flavor with a hint of garlic and spice. Ensure it’s thinly sliced to complement the other delicate fillings.
• Loaf of Ciabatta: The foundation of our pressed sandwich. Ciabatta, with its rustic crust and airy, open crumb, is perfect because it’s sturdy enough to hold the copious fillings yet soft enough to compress. Its irregular holes also help absorb the vinaigrette. You can also achieve excellent results using a good quality sourdough or Italian bread, sliced horizontally. Make sure the loaf is large enough to create a substantial sandwich.
• Black Olive Paste: Also known as tapenade, this provides a deep, briny, and intensely savory flavor that ties the Mediterranean ingredients together. If black olives aren’t your preference, finely chopped green olives can be substituted for a slightly sharper, saltier alternative. You can buy pre-made paste or easily make your own.
• Fresh Goat Cheese: This spreadable cheese adds a distinct tangy, earthy flavor and a creamy texture that contrasts beautifully with the savory meats. If goat cheese isn’t to your liking, don’t fret! You can happily substitute with other creamy, spreadable cheeses like smooth Ricotta, which offers a milder, sweeter creaminess, or Boursin cheese, which comes in various herb-infused flavors for an extra kick.
• Marinated Artichoke Hearts: Drained and chopped, these tender hearts bring a delightful tanginess and a slightly briny, earthy flavor to the sandwich, along with a pleasant texture. Ensure they are well-drained to avoid making the sandwich soggy.
• Provolone Cheese: Sliced provolone offers a mild, slightly sharp, and milky flavor that melts beautifully under pressure and complements the Italian meats. Choose between mild or sharp provolone based on your preference.
• Mixed Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs are non-negotiable for elevating the flavor profile. I used a generous mix of flat-leaf parsley and basil. Parsley adds a fresh, clean note, while basil contributes its characteristic sweet, peppery, and aromatic essence, embodying the spirit of Italian cuisine. Feel free to add oregano or a touch of fresh mint if you desire.

Crafting Your Perfect Pressed Brick Sandwich: A Step-by-Step Guide

The beauty of the Pressed Brick Sandwich lies not only in its delicious outcome but also in its relatively straightforward preparation. While the core recipe is fantastic, feel free to vary the ingredients based on your preferences and what you have on hand. For instance, my picky husband often pulls out the artichoke hearts, while I, not being a huge fan of goat cheese, might consider adding fresh mozzarella or even creamy Brie next time. This sandwich, loaded with Italian meats, flavorful cheeses, fresh vegetables, and savory olive spread, is a canvas for your culinary imagination. Let’s get started:

Make the Vinaigrette:

1. Prepare the Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, combine the Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar. Whisk them together thoroughly until well combined. Gradually drizzle in the olive oil while continuously whisking until the mixture emulsifies and thickens slightly. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Set this flavorful vinaigrette aside; it’s key to moistening and enhancing the sandwich layers.

Assemble the Sandwich:

1. Prepare the Bread: Take your chosen loaf of ciabatta (or Italian/sourdough bread) and carefully slice it horizontally through the middle, creating a top and bottom half. Next, gently hollow out the bottom half by pulling out some of the bready interior. This creates a wonderful cavity, allowing ample space for all the delicious fillings without making the sandwich unwieldy or causing ingredients to spill out. Spread a generous layer of the black olive paste evenly over the bottom crust. This will be your first layer of intense flavor. Then, arrange the sliced roasted red bell peppers over the olive paste.
2. Layer the Cheeses and Artichokes: Evenly crumble the fresh goat cheese (or your chosen substitute like ricotta or Boursin) over the roasted red peppers. The creamy texture will be a delightful contrast. Next, arrange the drained and chopped marinated artichoke hearts over the goat cheese.
3. Add the Meats and More Vinaigrette: Drizzle about half of the prepared vinaigrette evenly over the goat cheese and artichoke layer. This step is crucial for infusing flavor and moisture throughout the sandwich. Then, arrange the slices of Provolone cheese, followed by layers of thinly sliced prosciutto and Genoa salami over the artichoke hearts. Overlap them slightly to ensure even distribution in every slice.
4. Finish with Herbs and Top Crust: Drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the meat layer. This ensures maximum flavor penetration. Generously sprinkle the mixed fresh herbs (parsley and basil) over the entire filling. Finally, carefully place the top half of the ciabatta loaf back onto the sandwich, gently pressing it down.
5. Wrap and Press: Firmly wrap the entire sandwich in several layers of plastic wrap. This is essential for holding it together during the pressing process. Place the wrapped sandwich on a sturdy baking sheet or a large cutting board. Now for the “brick” part: weigh down the sandwich by placing a heavy skillet (a cast-iron skillet works exceptionally well due to its weight) or a couple of actual bricks on top. For even pressure distribution, you might want to place another cutting board on top of the sandwich before adding the weights. This helps ensure the sandwich compresses uniformly.
6. Chill and Serve: Place the weighted sandwich (baking sheet/cutting board, wrapped sandwich, and weights) into the refrigerator. Allow it to compress for at least 1 hour. This pressing time is vital as it allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the sandwich to become wonderfully compact. Once pressed, remove the weights and plastic wrap. Slice the sandwich into desired portions and serve immediately. Enjoy your perfectly pressed, flavor-packed creation!

Frequently Asked Questions About Pressed Brick Sandwiches

If you’re like me, the world of sandwiches can sometimes feel like a culinary maze. What’s the real difference between a submarine sandwich, a hoagie, or a hero? And then there’s this fantastic pressed brick or picnic sandwich, adding another layer of delicious confusion! Let’s clear up some common questions about these beloved handheld meals.

Beyond the Sandwich: More Game Day & Picnic Perfect Recipes

Speaking of game days, that particular Indiana University game was a memorable one, not just for the weather! The game was actually delayed for over an hour due to lightning strikes around the stadium, turning an already chilly afternoon into a frigid endurance test. My fingers and toes became so numb that I eventually elected to retreat to the warmth of the car and listen to the game on the radio – I’m quite certain my college friends are NOT surprised by my choice! I think I’ll definitely be passing on any November football games this coming season if they involve sleet and lightning. However, delicious food is always a winner, regardless of the weather. Here are a few more delightful game-day recipes and picnic-perfect ideas that are sure to be a hit, no matter the forecast:

• Hearty Game Day Chili from Aggie’s Kitchen – A warming classic for any cool weather event.
• Ganache-Topped Cosmic Brownies – A nostalgic, fudgy treat that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
• Vibrant Antipasto Skewers – Easy to eat, colorful, and packed with Mediterranean flavors.
• Fun Football Sandwich Cookies – Perfect for themed parties and sweet tooth cravings.
• Easy S’mores Dessert Dip – A gooey, chocolatey delight that’s perfect for sharing.
• The Best Game Day Snacks Collection – A comprehensive list of winning appetizers and bites.
• More Game Day Recipes – An expanded collection to inspire your next gathering.
• More Irresistible Sandwich Recipes – Explore other delicious sandwich ideas for every occasion.