Last Updated June 8th, 2022 at 08:03 pm by Lisa
Summer picnic food is easy with pressed Italian sandwiches that are neat to hold and eat. This pressed picnic sandwich recipe is bursting with flavor from the olives, pepperoncini, salami, deli meat, and more.
They keep very well overnight in the fridge. Make the day before, then grab and go. You can make these sandwiches in countless ways using meats, cheeses, and fillings you love.
Pop into a picnic lunch basket or cooler, and head off to the beach, a concert, or a picnic in the park...
What Are Pressed Picnic Sandwiches?
A pressed sandwich is a loaf of rustic bread (like a sourdough boule) that's split, filled with delicious layers of ingredients, and then wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight under a weight to flatten the layers and meld the flavors. This helps hold the sandwich together after it is sliced and easier to eat at a picnic, as we usually have a glass of something in the other hand!
What Ingredients Are Good?
What I LOVE about this recipe, is that you can use what you have on hand, or make the sandwich using your favorite ingredients from the grocery store. Make a version of these sandwiches that you and your family and friends will love. And try some new flavors and combinations during the picnic season...
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- large loaf of bread - round boule, French bread, focaccia, or any thick hearty breads will work
- a spread - that adds flavor using parsley, vinegar, little olive oil, chopped olives, capers, and pepperoncini's
- some leaft greens - fresh baby spinach, small spring lettuce leaves, or peppery arugula
- sliced cheeses - Colby-jack, sharp cheddar, swiss, fresh mozzarella, pepper jack, provolone, Havarti, white cheddar, or creamy goat cheese
- thinly sliced cold cuts or deli meats - slices of ham, chicken, turkey, salami, or prosciutto
- other optional ingredients - artichoke hearts, artichoke spread (Trader Joes), olive tapenade, pickled red onions, roasted red peppers, or fresh basil leaves
- you can easily make these a vegetarian sandwich too!
- wrap it up - if you want, you can wrap each of the individual sandwiches in a small piece of parchment paper then tie with a cute ribbon or red and white string. It isn't necessary, because they hold together after being pressed, chilled, and sliced.
Special Occasions To Serve These
These are one my go-to recipes I love to parties and fun events. Most recently I took them to a girls' weekend at local beach cottages and everyone loved them. You can make these the night before for...
- girls getaway weekends
- baby showers
- beach and mountain picnics
- bridal showers
- pool parties
- al fresco music concerts
- hiking and outdoor trips
- sports events
- great for a road trip
How to Make Picnic Sandwiches
- ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar red is fine too
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup kalamata olives finely chopped (or use olive tapenade)
- ¼ cup capers drained and finely chopped
- ¼ cup pepperoncini's finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 Italian Round Boulle Bread Loaf or French bread loaf
- 6-8 slices Colby cheese or cheese you like
- 10-12 slices Italian dry salami
- 8 slices turkey or chicken deli meat
- 2 cups fresh organic baby spinach
- Optional sandwich filling ideas: ham pepperoni, roasted red peppers, different cheeses, artichoke spread, and chopped olives - any kind.
- Use a round boule bread loaf, and a small serrated knife and cut the boulle around the side evenly.
- Rotate the loaf of bread, and cut the boule loaf all the way in half removing the top from the bottom.
- Use your fingers and scoop out the bread from the top and bottom of the boule.
- Leave about a ½ inch rim around the top and bottom of the bread shells to allow the filling to be pressed flat inside the bread loaf and stay inside.
- In a small bowl, mix the olives (or olive tapenade), pepperoncini's, parsley, olive oil, vinegar, capers, and black pepper. Spread 1 cup of the olive mixture on the bread bottom.
- Next, layer all the sandwich ingredients: cheese, deli meats, spinach/lettuce spreads, or toppings you like. Add the rest of the olive mixture if you have any left.
- Place the bread tops of the boulle loaf back on, and press gently down. Use plastic wrap to tightly wrap the sandwich. Wrap sandwich tightly a couple times, and cover completely.
- Place the sandwich between two baking sheets and weigh it down with some heavy objects like a large can, containers of juice, or a heavy skillet to press down the sandwich. The reason you want to do this is so it slices neatly and holds together with "one hand" hold at the picnic!
- Keep in the refrigerator for at least couple of hours, overnight is better as it has time to press and the flavors are better the next day.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the sandwich into 8 wedges.
- Serve with side salads like easy pasta salad, macaroni salad, and cut watermelon.
PRO TIP: The SECRET TO THIS SANDWICH is to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and to press or weight it down between 2 cookie sheets. Use cans or jars in the fridge to "press" the sandwich flatter. It will cut very easily when cold, and looks so pretty!
When the warmer weather arrives, it is so fun to get outside and enjoy the perfect picnic sandwich at your favorite place.
-Pack in a cooler or picnic basket and use frozen water bottles in your cooler, then you can drink them.
-The best option is to pack a picnic box for each guest! Order larger disposable food take-out containers online. That way the work is done, and you can relax and not have to pass and serve food.
-Pack up those napkins and prepacked utensils from the take-out food deliveries you have been saving!
-Use small paper takeout boxes ordered inexpensively online for salads, fresh fruit, sides, and desserts.
-Small foldable picnic table in a bag, table cloth, blanket, glasses, plates, and utensils.
Make food that is easy to eat like pressed picnic sandwiches, desserts that won't melt like cookies, and sides the night before. Then just box them up in the cooler or picnic basket and go have fun!
The picnic was originally a 17th Century French word, picque-nique. Its meaning was similar to today's meaning: a social gathering where each person shares a dish of food.
The best picnic food recipes are ones that can be served in small containers and passed around, or held in your hand like a cut sandwich that stays together, sausage rolls, or hand-held meat pies.
Small bite-size desserts that hold their shapes (and don't melt) are a great choice as well like bars and cookies. You can slice them into smaller portions for each guest too.
PRO TIP: Buy inexpensive paper take out containers and pack salads in these. People love to have their own box at a summer picnic.
Glad these are not real ants marching at our picnic today!
More Picnic Food Ideas
Get your cooler or basket packed and go have a picnic..try a new place, it will be delicious. Happy Picnicking!
Cool refreshing Watermelon Salad is served in the carved-out watermelon as the salad bowl. Serve chilled on a hot day for summer picnics, beach, or pool parties!
An easy Pasta Salad with fresh herbs, bell pepper, and cheese. This is a mayo-less salad, perfect to serve at outdoor picnics or cookouts.
Broccoli Salad with crisp green apples, crunchy broccoli, and grapes create this summer salad with a creamy 3-ingredient orange dressing.
A Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe loaded with chopped eggs, crunchy celery, dill pickles, and the secret ingredient pickle juice! A cherished old-fashioned family recipe and a real crowd-pleaser.
These Patriotic M&M Sugar Cookies are decorated with red, white, and blue M&Ms, icing stripes, and star sprinkles. Great for beach days, picnics, summer parties, and the 4th of July.
Ice cold Blueberry Lemonade captures Summer in every sip, it is made in minutes with homemade blueberry syrup, fresh lemon juice, and honey.
Cole Slaw with an easy vinegar dressing and no-mayo, is great on pulled pork sandwiches, with grilled hamburgers, or BBQ chicken. This coleslaw recipe works as a summer side dish for picnics and cookouts.
The best Potato Salad BBQ side dish loaded with crispy bacon and blue cheese for summer cookouts, potlucks, and a great picnic food idea!
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Pressed Picnic Sandwiches Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar red is fine too
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup kalamata olives finely chopped (or use olive tapenade)
- ¼ cup capers drained and finely chopped
- ¼ cup pepperoncini's finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 Italian Round Boulle Bread Loaf
- 6-8 slices Colby cheese or cheese you like
- 10-12 slices Italian dry salami
- 8 slices turkey or chicken deli meat
- 2 cups fresh organic baby spinach
- Optional sandwich filling ideas: ham pepperoni, roasted red peppers, different cheeses, artichoke spread, and chopped olives-any kind.
Instructions
- Use a round boule bread loaf, and a small serrated knife and cut the boulle around the side evenly.
- Rotate the loaf of bread, and cut the boule loaf in half removing the top from the bottom.
- Use your fingers and scoop out the bread from the top and bottom of the boule.
- Leave about a ½ inch rim around the top and bottom of the bread shells to allow the filling to be pressed flat inside the bread loaf and stay inside.
- In a small bowl, mix the olives (or olive tapenade), pepperoncinis, parsley, olive oil, vinegar, capers, and black pepper. Spread 1 cup of the olive mixture on the bread bottom.
- Next, layer all the sandwich ingredients: cheese, deli meats, spinach/lettuce spreads or toppings you like. Add the rest of the olive mixture if you have any left.
- Place the bread tops of the boulle loaf back on, and press gently down. Use plastic wrap to tightly wrap the sandwich. Wrap sandwich tightly a couple times, and cover completely.
- Place the sandwich between two baking sheets and weigh it down with some heavy objects like a large can, containers of juice, or a heavy skillet to press down the sandwich. The reason you want to do this is so it all holds together neatly in a "one hand" hold at the picnic!
- Keep in the refrigerator at least couple of hours, overnight is better as it has time to press and the flavors are better the next day.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the sandwich into 8 wedges.
- Serve with side salads like easy pasta salad, macaroni salad and cut watermelon.
What a cool post! These sandwiches looks so tasty, I'd love to try them. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I am in love! I have been planning a picnic party with my girls and this def makes it easier for me!
Well we are too! As a matter of fact, I really have these in the fridge right now! Made them twice in the last few weeks, and gave one big sandwich to my friends son, who is a football player and just loves this sandwich. You can put anything in there you like, works sooo well for beach, picnics, pool parties etc! Have fun and let us know what you put in your sandwich!
Looks like such a yummy lunch idea. Perfect for my upcoming family picnic!
We are huge fans of this sandwich, I have served it many times to large groups, it makes it so easy!
How cute! I have always wanted to have an actual picnic in the park like this one but never have. I'll definitely have to try this out. Thanks for sharing!
Right? These are so super fun and easy. The best part is you can make them the day before your party or picnic! They can be made with whatever ingredients or spreads you like. I have used all kinds of dips as my spread and layered cheeses and meats that went together, with some lettuce, it all works so well, just wrap, press, and slice!
That looks like an adorable picnic. We love having picnics with our kids at parks.
Aww thank you Kayla, I went all out on that vintage picnic basket...couldn't resist it when I saw it! We love picnics too...
It definitely looks like the perfect picnic sandwich. Kind of reminds me of a Sandwich Alton Brown made only maybe a little more complex. I will have to try this out.
Oh do! I love Alton Brown-boy did I learn a lot from his show! You can make this sandwich with any spread, deli meats, vegetables, or cheeses you like. I have made it countless times, we always love it!
I've never seen anything like this. I'll have to try it sometime!
I prefer to eat freshly made sandwiches. But since this could be made a night ahead, Meaning it could be stored longer. Do I make sense? LOL.
Wow the sandwich really looks neat. It's as if no crumbs would fall off. LOL
Great point! I wrap them tightly in saran wrap, and you can put anything in them you like! You don't have to use any ingredient that isn't your fave. I slice right through the wrapped sandwich with a small serated knife, it cuts super clean! Enjoy...
This recipe looks amazing!! I love sandwiches with red wine vinegar. I can't wait to try.
These are my go-to summertime favorite sandwich.... I just made 2 of them this morning for a little pool party cause it's going to be in the low 100's today...hot!
Really easy fast sandwich that you can make the night before, and take to a picnic, lake, beach etc. It is always a hit with my friends and kids love it too!
I am so happy to have found this post! I will be planning a picnic and trust me, I will be using your tips here. Everything looks so good and the presentation is excellent. Thank you!
Oh that is great Valerie! Picnics are always tough to pack things that stay together. We have served this so many places, and you can put whatever deli meat, cheese, or spreads you like!
I could eat this all day! These remind me of a combination of the hoagies I had growing up in Philly and muffalettas from "Nawlins." I made this to take to a friend's and we drank wine and ate these up -- FANTASTIC! I love how everything tastes after marinating together overnight. Definitely a keeper!