Mortadella Sandwich made with homemade schiacciata bread, pistachio mortadella, fresh stracciatella cheese and a savory pistachio spread. This sandwich is an All'Antico Vinaio's La Paradiso copycat, but even better!
Florence-style sandwich shops have been popping up everywhere in Los Angeles in the last year. So when All'Antico Vinaio, a famous Florence sandwich shop opened nearby, I had to give it a try. I got their popular "La Paradiso" sandwich, which is filled with pistachio mortadella, stracciatella cheese, savory "pistachio cream" and crushed pistachios. It was a good sandwich, but I knew I could make it better at home!
The first thing to tackle is the schiacciata bread, which is a type of Italian flatbread similar to focaccia. Schiacciata bread is ideal for making sandwiches because it's flat and has a light and airy interior, with a crisp exterior.
The second thing is to make is the savory "pistachio cream," which should not to be confused with a sweet pistachio cream. I'll be honest, I'm not sure if it was an off day, but their pistachio cream was a bit bland. I figured it's a paste consisting of pistachio nuts and olive oil. I ended up adding parmesan cheese, fresh lemon zest and grated garlic to amp up the flavor, essentially making a pistachio pesto, but without the basil and it turned out amazing! Wait till you try this mortadella sandwich!
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♡ Why You Will Love This Mortadella Sandwich Recipe
- Homemade schiacciata bread. Nothing beats freshly homemade bread and this schiacciata recipe tastes incredible! It's made in one bowl and requires no kneading.
- No skimping on ingredients. As you can see the sandwich that I got from the shop, it was a bit light on filling. Since we are making these mortadella sandwiches at home, we can be more generous with our fixings.
- No long lines. You can skip the long lines and make bakery style sandwiches right at home!
Ingredient Notes
Here are some notes about all the ingredients used in this Mortadella Sandwich. Quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card below!
- Homemade Schiacciata - I recommend that you try my super easy homemade schiacciata recipe, but you can use store-bought if you are in a pinch.
- Pistachio Spread - We will be making a simple and quick homemade pistachio spread. The nuttiness works perfectly with the delicate flavor of the mortadella.
- Stracciatella - Stracciatella is a soft, creamy fresh cheese, consisting of shredded mozzarella curds and fresh cream. In fact, it's the filling found in the center of burrata cheese. I was able to score some at Trader Joe's. If you can't find stracciatella, you can substitute with burrata.
- Mortadella with Pistachios - Mortadella can be found at any Italian market or at your local supermarket deli counter. Ask for it to be thinly sliced.
- Crushed Pistachio Nuts - Adds nuttiness and crunch.
Pistachio Spread
- Pistachio Nuts - I'm using raw pistachio nuts, but you can also use pre-roasted ones too.
- Parmesan - Adds savory nutty flavor.
- Lemon Zest - Finely grated lemon zest adds freshness and bright flavor.
- Garlic - A bit of grated fresh garlic adds flavor.
- Olive Oil - You can use light or extra-virgin olive oil, however, I recommend using light olive oil to reduce any bitterness.
- Salt - To season if needed.
*See recipe card for quantities.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Here are step-by-step photos and instructions on how to make this Mortadella Sandwich! Please find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Make Pistachio Spread - Pulse pistachios in a food processor. Reserve 1 to 2 tablespoon for garnishing the sandwiches.
Step 2. Add parmesan cheese, lemon zest and grated garlic, and pulse until combined.
Step 3. With the food processor on, slowly pour in enough olive oil until you reach a spreadable consistency. Taste and season with salt if needed.
Step 4. Assemble Sandwiches - With a serrated knife, slice lightly toasted schiacciata bread in half. Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of pistachio spread on the bottom half, followed by 3 tablespoons of stracciatella cheese. Sprinkle with reserved crushed pistachios and flaky sea salt if desired. Then, add mortadella slices and top with the other half of bread. Serve and enjoy!
Substitutions & Variations
- For the Homemade Schiacciata - Feel free to use store-bought schiacciata or focaccia (will be much thicker). You can also use ciabatta or baguette.
- For the Stracciatella - If you're unable to find stracciatella cheese, you can replace it with burrata cheese, or fresh mozzarella.
- For the Pistachio Spread - You can use a pistachio pesto or traditional pesto.
- For the Pistachio Mortadella - I'm using mortadella with pistachios, but you can use Mortadella with peppercorns or plain mortadella. If you are not a fan of mortadella, you can use your favorite Italian cold cuts like prosciutto, salami, soppressata, capicola, ham or turkey.
Key Equipment
- Food Processor
- Serrated Knife
- Rubber Spatula
Storage
- The pistachio spread can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for about a week. Letting it come to room temperature will make it easier to spread.
- Assembled sandwiches are best eaten fresh, however, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for 1 to 2 days.
FAQ
Mortadella is an Italian cured deli meat made of finely hashed (chopped) or ground pork meat. It's traditionally studded with peppercorns, pistachios and less commonly, myrtle berries.
It's very similar to American bologna. It has rich pork flavor, with a subtle hint of warm spices and is mildly salty.
Stracciatella is a soft, creamy fresh cheese, consisting of shredded mozzarella curds and fresh cream. In fact, it's the filling found in the center of burrata cheese.
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📖 Recipe
Mortadella Sandwich
INGREDIENTS
Pistachio Spread
- 1 cup (120g) pistachio nuts
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- zest of 1 lemon finely grated
- 1 garlic clove finely grated
- olive oil
- salt to taste
Mortadella Sandwich
- 4 pieces homemade schiacciata bread or store-bought
- pistachio spread
- 8 to 10 oz stracciatella cheese (or burrata cheese)
- 9 to 10 oz pistachio mortadella (5 to 7 slices per sandwich)
- crushed pistachios
Instructions
- Make Pistachio Spread - Coarsely pulse pistachios in a food processor and reserve 1 to 2 tablespoons for garnishing the sandwiches. Add grated parmesan cheese, grated lemon zest and grated garlic, and pulse until combined. With the food processor on, slowly pour in enough olive oil until you reach a spreadable consistency. Taste and season with salt if needed.
- Assemble Sandwiches - With a serrated knife, slice lightly toasted schiacciata bread in half. Next, spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of the pistachio spread on the bottom half, followed by 3 tablespoons of stracciatella cheese. Sprinkle with reserved crushed pistachios and flaky sea salt if desired. Then, add 5 to 7 slices of mortadella (adjust to your preference or to the size of your bread). Top with the other half of the bread. Serve and enjoy!
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