Cubano Sandwich
Sandwiches are this high ass’ favorite go to. I try to not by bread, because a loaf will be gone in 2 days in my home. Reubens have been my favorite sandwich forever, but I think the Cubano has replaced it. Why? 2 types of pork: ham and pork shoulder. If you want to go all out, you can cure your own ham and smoke your own pork shoulder for the Cubano. Recipes for both are attached below.Cubano sandwiches traditionally use a Cuban bread called pan sobao. It is similar to an Italian bread loaf, but sweeter in flavor and crustier in texture once toasted. You can find the bread at Latin markets. If not, a loaf of Italian bread will work. Smear each side with garlic butter and toast. Spread a thin layer of mustard on both slices. Top each side with Swiss cheese and ham. Then top one side with pulled pork and the other with sour pickles. Fold together.Cubanos are normally grilled in a panini press. If you don’t have one, no worries. Melt some butter on a griddle. Place the sandwich on top. Use a heavy cast iron skillet to weigh down the sandwich, just like a press. If you want, you can place the cast iron skillet in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes prior to pressing the sandwich. This will toast the topside. But who am I kidding. I want both sides to kiss the butter on the griddle. I skipped this step and used a cold cast iron pan just as a weight. I flipped mine after 4 minutes and toasted the other side. And then I gorged.
Equipment
- cast iron pan
Ingredients
- Cuban or Italian bread loaf
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 garlic cloves minced
- yellow mustard
- 3 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 slices ham thinly sliced
- 1/4 lb pulled pork
- bread and butter pickles
Instructions
- Melt 1 tbsp of butter. Mix with minced garlic. Butter the inside of the bread.
- Toast the buttered side of the bread on a griddle for 2 minutes over medium heat.
- Spread a thin layer of mustard on both slices of bread. Top each slice with Swiss cheese.
- Put 2 pieces of ham on each slice of bread.
- Place the pulled pork on one of the slices of bread. Place the pickles on the other side.
- Close the sandwich together. Melt the other tbsp of butter on the griddle over medium heat. Place the sandwich on the griddle.
- Weigh the sandwich down with a cast iron skillet. Toast for 3-4 minutes.
- Flip the sandwich over and toast for another 3-4 minutes with the cast iron skillet on top.
