The Cuban sandwich is loved all over the world and can be ordered in restaurants or kiosks. Although related to the classic ham and cheese stuffed sandwich, it has a heavenly taste thanks to the perfect combination of flavors and grilling, which makes it pleasantly warm and crunchy.
Ingrediants
- Cuban bread, French bread with a thin and elongated shape or ciabatta
- Mustard
- 8-10 dill-flavored pickled cucumbers cut into slices
- 2 slices of Emmentaler
- 4 thin slices of delicately flavored ham
- 4 slices of roasted pork (or shredded pork)
- Butter
- Sandwich press, sandwich maker, waffle iron or other similar device
- Non-stick spray (optional)
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Traditional Cuban Sandwich
Step 1. Cut a fresh Cuban sandwich lengthwise
It is a long, tapered type of bread that becomes crunchy when baked in a sandwich press, without hardening. If you can't find it, you can easily replace it with soft French bread with a thin and elongated shape (but it doesn't have to be as hard and tapered as a baguette) or a ciabatta. You can also opt for a loaf. Cut a piece of about 18 cm or a size that will satisfy your appetite.
To make a clean sandwich, leave the outer edge intact
Step 2. Spread the butter on the outside of the bread to prevent it from sticking to the griddle
It is better to do it before stuffing it.
If you use non-stick cooking spray instead, spray it on the inside surface of the plate
Step 3. Spread about 2 tablespoons of mustard evenly on both sides of the bread
Almost all recipes involve the use of mustard. However, if you are using particularly tasty pork, you can serve the seasoning separately
Step 4. Place a slice of Emmentaler on each half of the bun
Many traditional recipes call for equal doses of cheese, ham, and pork, but you can cut thinner slices if you want.
Step 5. Cut 2 large dill-flavored pickled cucumbers into 8-10 long, thin slices (you may find pre-sliced cucumbers at the grocery store)
Place them on only one half of the sandwich.
Step 6. Add the ham
Fold 4 thin slices of ham over the pickles. You can use whatever you prefer, but traditionally you opt for a ham with a delicate, sweet and cured flavor such as York ham, sweet cured ham or smoked with honey.
You can also cook a ham with homemade honey glaze
Step 7. Prepare the roast pork, the real star of the sandwich
Heat a few slices of roasted pork over low heat in a saucepan, then use them to fill the sandwich. To intensify the flavor, use pork marinated in mojo, a Cuban sauce that can also be poured over the pan as an alternative. The main ingredients of the sauce are garlic and bitter orange (which can be substituted for regular oranges, lemon and lime).
If you don't have sliced roast pork, you can use shredded pork
Step 8. Heat the soleplate or other similar tool
Although Cuban sandwiches are made with a plate called a plancha, in other countries people generally opt for other devices, including:
- Press or sandwich maker.
- Waffle iron (if possible, flip the metal plates to turn the flat parts inward).
- Grill or skillet, pressing the sandwich with a cast iron skillet or brick wrapped with foil.
Step 9. Once the press has been heated, place the sandwich on the inside surface and press the lid, calculating about one third of the original thickness of the sandwich
Cook it until the bread is golden and slightly crunchy, while the cheese should melt. It usually takes 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- If you haven't done this before, remember to butter the zest of the bread or sprinkle non-stick cooking spray on the surface.
- If the sandwich falls apart or is too big for the press, wrap it in aluminum foil.
Method 2 of 2: Variants
Step 1. Try a midnight ("midnight") sandwich
It has the same filling as the Cuban, but the ingredients are placed on small slices of challah bread. You can also try to get or make Cuban suave or Mexican pan dulce.
Step 2. Add some Genoese salami, a popular recipe in Tampa, Florida, where Cuban sandwiches with an Italian twist are made in some places
Give it a try by adding a slice of Genoese salami between the ham and pork (just remember that it's not an accepted variant by purists).
Step 3. Make your own creations
Mayonnaise? Tomato? Lettuce? According to some it would be a sacrilege, but after all, the sandwich is yours. Anyway, before taking the usual ingredients you use to make a sandwich, try the traditional recipe.
Cheese is an ingredient that lends itself to many experiments. If you don't like Emmentaler (the most popular Swiss cheese internationally), try Jarlsberg, Provolone or Gruyere
Step 4. Grill the ham
To toast it, open the sandwich and grill it for 1 or 2 minutes, letting the ham touch the plate. Do this before adding the pork and pressing it.
Advice
- Although homemade pork roast is preferable, you can find it at the rotisserie or supermarket and make an equally tasty sandwich. Alternatively, use slow cooker pork.
- To make it even more crunchy, toast the bread on the grill before filling the sandwich.
- Remove the meat and cheese from the fridge beforehand so that they are at room temperature when they are cooked. This will make it easy to reheat the meat and melt the cheese without burning the bread.
