Transform your midday meal into a show-stopping masterpiece with "Lunch in a Loaf," a flavorful and portable feast perfect for picnics, parties, or casual family gatherings. This recipe combines a hollowed-out sourdough bread loaf with layers of savory deli meats like ham and turkey, creamy provolone and cheddar cheeses, and fresh vegetables such as baby spinach, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. A tangy dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, and herbs ties everything together, while a Dijon-mayo spread ensures every bite is packed with flavor. Once assembled, the loaf is wrapped and chilled, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve it in slices for an effortless, crowd-pleasing dish that's as stunning as it is delicious. Perfect for make-ahead lunches, entertaining, or a gourmet twist on your favorite sandwich!
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Using a serrated knife, slice the top off the sourdough bread loaf and hollow out the inside to create a bowl, leaving about a 1-inch wall around the edges. Reserve the bread scraps for another use.
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard until fully combined. Spread the mixture evenly on the inside walls of the bread bowl and on the underside of the bread top.
Layer the fillings: Start with a layer of sliced ham, followed by turkey, provolone cheese, and cheddar cheese.
Top the cheeses with the baby spinach, then add the sliced tomatoes and red onion.
In another small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Drizzle this dressing evenly over the vegetables inside the bread bowl.
Repeat the layering process—ham, turkey, cheeses, spinach, tomatoes, onion—until the loaf is filled to the top or your ingredients run out.
Place the bread lid back on top and press down gently to compact the layers. Wrap the entire loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil if desired.
Refrigerate the wrapped loaf for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the bread to soak up the dressing.
When ready to serve, unwrap the loaf and slice into wedges using a sharp serrated knife. Enjoy!
Serving size | (1395.7g) |
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Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
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Calories | 2984.0 |
Total Fat 152.9g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 48.6g | 0% |
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.2g | |
Cholesterol 373.5mg | 0% |
Sodium 8828.9mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 251.4g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 15.6g | 0% |
Total Sugars 20.6g | |
Protein 137.2g | 0% |
Vitamin D 12IU | 0% |
Calcium 1406.2mg | 0% |
Iron 14.0mg | 0% |
Potassium 2003.5mg | 0% |
Source of Calories