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Mortadella Sandwich

Mortadella sandwich is a super popular Italian panino (sandwich) which is traditionally served on a bread roll. Learn more about this meat product, and how Italians eat it in a sandwich.

mortadella panini

A mortadella sandwich made with only two ingredients, as an Italian mortadella panino, is truly something to add to your culinary bucket list. Of course, there are more ways to enjoy mortadella, as you’ll see below, but in Italy, the simplest is often the best.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I received Di Stefano stracciatella, under no conditions. As always, all opinions are my own.

mortadella panino
Panino con mortadella courtesy of Marco Sarao

Mortadella has started to become more popular in the US in recent years, justifiably so. I’ve been eating mortadella since I was a young child, and I love it. The scent alone will kick my salivary glands into high gear! It really reminds me of Italy whenever I enjoy a panino con mortadella (that’s what you’d ask for in Italy.)

ALLERGEN NOTICE: MORTADELLA OFTEN CONTAINS PISTACHIOS

mortadella sandwich in Treviso
Mortadella sandwich in Treviso

What is Mortadella?

Mortadella is a processed pork meat product which is shaped into a very large, long, round sausage. It often has pistachios in it, and it’s most often sliced paper thin when served. You’ll notice chunks of fat and the pistachios dotted throughout. It has a silky smooth texture, and the flavor is difficult to describe with its unique spices and flavorings, so you’ll just have to try it!

paper thin slice of mortadella
A slice of mortadella (the holes are where the pistachio slices fell out.)

Mortadella is not made with horse meat, so don’t be afraid to try it (if you eat pork.)

mortadella sandwich

Here are some Italian street foods that you don’t want to miss when you’re in Italy (region around Rome, Lazio.) Can you spot the panino con mortadella?

Italian street food pin

Although mortadella is a Northern Italian food, you will see it all over Italy. This mortadella meat is much loved! One thing you will notice is how thinly mortadella is sliced. It’s always sliced very thin (you don’t usually have to ask) in Italy, but I have found that it’s more difficult to get it sliced as thin in the US. You may think I’m crazy, but if mortadella is sliced too thick, I won’t eat it.

Mortadella vs Bologna

mortadella and meat on a board
Mortadella served as an aperitivo courtesy of The Italianista

If you have tasted both top quality IGP mortadella and American bologna sliced deli meat, you already know the answer to this question: there is no comparison.

mortadella in Italy
Having mortadella al fresco in my mother’s village in Italy.

Italian mortadella is made with quality pork and pistachios and the flavor is intense and delicious. I remember tasting bologna when we moved to America, and it’s really so different that it’s like comparing a little hatchback car to get you from point A to B to a Lamborghini. Note: mortadella comes from the region of Bologna (Boh-loh-nyah.)

Mortadella isn’t only eaten in sandwiches, it can be cut into cubes, used as an ingredient in filled pasta, or made into a mousse. I recently had the latter at a Prosecco event here in Los Angeles, and it was divine!

Anthony Bourdain’s Mortadella Sandwich

As popular as Anthony Bourdain was, apparently many people are looking for his mortadella sandwich recipe which includes mortadella, cheese and condiments. As an Italian, I will say that this is simply not how mortadella sandwiches are eaten in Italy.

It would be like an Italian eating a hot dog and adding pasta sauce and fries to the bun. I would advise trying it the way it is meant to be eaten first, then try other combinations. I’m not saying not to add other ingredients, but know that Mr. Bourdain’s version isn’t authentic.

mortadella and bread

Lambrusco wine goes perfectly with mortadella, in case you were wondering what is in the glasses!

How to Make the Best Mortadella Sandwich (Italian-Style)

Recipe by Christina Conte (but not really, all Italians know this!)            serves 2
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

ciabatta rolls
I made homemade ciabatta rolls! Recipe coming soon.

Ingredients

  • Italian panini (crusty bread roll or baguette)
  • Italian mortadella
  • (optional: burrata or fresh mozzarella)
  • (optional: chopped pistachios)

Directions

roll sliced in half

Slice the bread in half, horizontally, leaving the top slightly attached.

adding mortadella to bread

Start adding the slices of mortadella meat evenly along the bread, but make sure you don’t make them all flat on top of each other. Twist and move the slices so there’s spaces between the mortadella slices.

If you prefer to add cheese and pistachio, do so next, adding the stracciatella, mozzarella or burrata first. I used stracciatella cheese from Di Stefano, which is incredibly creamy and delicious.

stracciatella on a fork

Add your choice of cheese to the mortadella.

Sprinkle with chopped pistachios, if desired

sprinkling pistachios on cheese

You’ve created a masterpiece!

I hope this inspires you to be on the lookout for Italian mortadella so that you can try a panino the way you would have in Italy.

mortadella sandwich using di stefano cheese

See if you can find Di Stefano stracciatella, burrata or fresh mozzarella; if not you can order from their site.

mortadella from Italy

Look at what I spotted in a fast food spot in Bari!

mortadella panini in Bari
mortadella panini

Mortadella (Sandwich – Panino)

Servings: 2
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
All about mortadella, and how to make the classic Italian mortadella sandwich (panino.)
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

  • 4 oz thinly sliced mortadella as many slices as you desire
  • 2 ciabatta bread rolls like Trader Joe's or homemade

Instructions

  • Slice the bread rolls in half, horizontally, leaving the top slightly attached.
  • Place the slices of mortadella evenly along the roll, but make sure you don't make them all flat on top of each other. Twist and move the slices so there's space between the mortadella.
  • Repeat with the second (or subsequent) rolls.

Notes

  • For an authentic variation of the mortadella panino, try it with stracciatella, burrata or fresh mozzarella cheese. Add chopped pistachios, if desired.
  • Try to find good quality mortadella. Brands I have found in the US include Citterio, Veroni and Mastro.
  • Beware that mortadella often contains pistachios (for nut allergy sufferers.)
  • Try a mortadella panino without other ingredients for the first time. Then add other ingredients once you’ve tasted the original sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 983mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Italian cats love mortadella, too! 🤩

cats licking paper

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

5 from 2 votes

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12 Comments

  1. Fantastic! Mortadella is my very favorite sandwich meat. Can’t get enough of the stuff! And combined with burrata it’s pure heaven.

  2. Love how you’ve shown us how it’s done authentically in Italy – and love the pistachios in there! Look forward to your ciabatta rolls recipe too.

  3. I made this sandwich yesterday for myself and fussy husband. It was delicious and he was pleasantly surprised! We had another one for lunch today. Will definitely, keep this on our list of lunch time eats!

  4. Mark remembers these from his semester in Rome — so he had me make a thin focaccia and buy Mortadella. Yours look perfect.

  5. thank you so much for saying it has nuts in it, my 4 year old has a serve nut allergy, so this will be a sandwich for 1

    1. I am 100% serious, Jilly. Italian sandwiches that are made outside of Italy are not made as they are within Italy. Most people would not know that mortadella needs to be sliced paper thin and that nothing else goes into the bread roll. If you don’t enjoy learning about Italian food and culture then my site is not for you.