Grilled Vegetable Muffulettas

• Recipe by Martha McGinnis

Muffulettas, a New Orleans specialty, are serious sandwiches piled high with Italian meats and cheese. McGinnis makes a vegetarian version, replacing the ham with grilled vegetables. Refrigerate any remaining pesto for your next sandwich.

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons walnuts
2. 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
3. 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
4. 1/2 cup (tightly packed) basil leaves
5. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
6. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
7. Salt and freshly ground pepper
8. 2 medium red bell peppers
9. 2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
10. 1 small eggplant, sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
11. 1 large baguette, halved lengthwise
12. 20 small spinach leaves, washed and dried
13. 1/2 pound sliced Provolone cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Toast the walnuts for about 7 minutes, or until golden; let cool. In a food processor, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, basil, garlic and walnuts and pulse until finely chopped. Add the 2 tablespoons of oil and process until smooth. Season the pesto with salt and pepper.
2. Light a grill or preheat the broiler. Brush the bell peppers, zucchini and eggplant with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill over a medium-hot fire or broil for 12 to 15 minutes, turning, until lightly charred all over and very tender. Transfer the bell peppers to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let cool. Peel, core and seed the bell peppers and cut into quarters.
3. Slice open the baguette and discard the center, leaving a scant 1/2 inch of bread all around. Spread a thin layer of pesto on both sides of the baguette and arrange half of the spinach on the bottom. Top with half of the cheese and vegetables, then repeat with the remaining ingredients. Cut the muffuletta in half. Tightly wrap the sandwich halves in plastic and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours or refrigerate overnight. Cut each sandwich into 4 pieces and serve.