Content

• Ingredients
• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Traditional Cuban Sandwich
• Method 2 of 2: Variations of a Cuban Sandwich
• Tips

Cuban Sandwich is a popular dish in Miami, Florida, where you can find it on the menus of restaurants and street vendors selling ready-to-eat foods. Although the recipe for a Cuban sandwich resembles that of a regular ham and cheese sandwich, the quality of the ingredients required and the way the bread is fried until crisp and golden brown make this dish unique and unique.

Ingredients

• French or Italian loaf
• Mustard
• 8-10 pickled cucumber slices
• 2 slices of Swiss cheese
• 4 slices thinly sliced ​​ham
• 4 slices of boiled pork
• Butter
• Sandwich toaster, waffle maker, or similar cooking equipment
• Cooking spray (optional)

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Traditional Cuban Sandwich

1. 1 Cut the loaf lengthwise into two halves. Ideally, a Cuban loaf is used for Cuban sandwiches, it is thinner and more crunchy, so use it if possible, or try to find the thinnest French or Italian loaf (the baguette is too thin and hard and not suitable for this purpose), or a loaf for "sabas" ... Cuban sandwich is usually about 18 cm long, but you can choose the size of the sandwich depending on your preference.
   • To make the sandwich look more tidy, leave it untouched on one side.
2. 2 Grease the outside of the loaf with butter. This will prevent it from sticking to the toaster. It will be easier to do this before adding all the ingredients.
   • If you have cooking spray, you can skip this step and grease your sandwich just before placing it in the toaster.
3. 3 Spread mustard on the loaf. Spread about 2 tablespoons (40 g) of mustard on both sides of the loaf on the side you cut it from.
   • Almost all sandwich recipes use mustard, but if you don't like mustard or use too spicy ham, you can serve the mustard separately.
4. 4 Put in the cheese. Place a slice of Swiss cheese on top of the mustard on both sides. Many traditional recipes recommend using equal proportions of cheese, ham and pork, but you can change these proportions if you wish.
5. 5 Place the pickled cucumber slices. Cut two large pickles into 8-10 thin slices (or you can purchase pickles that are already sliced). Place them on one side of the sandwich.
6. 6 Add ham slices. Place the ham slices on top of the pickled cucumbers. If the pieces are thin and large, fold them up. You can use any kind of ham you like best or have at the moment.
   • You can even use baked ham with homemade honey frosting if you like.
7. 7 Add boiled pork to the sandwich. Heat a few pieces of boiled pork in a skillet over low heat and then place them in a sandwich. If you want a flavorful sandwich, choose spicy meats. Ideally, you should use pork marinated in Cuban mojo sauce. You can also sprinkle the sauce over the surface of the pan when frying the pork. The main ingredients of this sauce are garlic and sour orange (you can use lemon or lime instead).
   • If you don't have boiled pork, you can use chunks of braised pork.
8. 8 Heat up a toaster, waffle maker, or other suitable kitchen appliance. Although a real Cuban sandwich is prepared using a special grill press, you can use other kitchen appliances:
   • Sandwich or panini press.
   • Waffle maker with simple metal toast tins.
   • Grill pan or regular skillet with a heavy cast iron base to press down on the sandwich. You can even crush the sandwich with a brick wrapped in foil.
9. 9 Press down on the sandwich. When the toaster or waffle maker is hot, place the sandwich and press down until it shrinks about three times. Cook the Cuban sandwich until golden brown and until the cheese is melted. This usually takes 2-3 minutes on each side.
   • Be sure to spread butter on the bread or sprinkle cooking spray on the toaster or waffle maker.
   • If the sandwich disintegrates or is too large for the toaster, wrap it in foil.

Method 2 of 2: Variations of a Cuban Sandwich

1. 1 Make a medianoche sandwich. Medianoche means "midnight" in Spanish - these sandwiches have the same filling as the Cuban ones, but they use small buns for their preparation.If the bakery nearby does not sell white buns, use a wicker loaf (challah bread).
2. 2 Add salami. Cuban sandwiches are very popular in Florida, USA, and in Tampa, they are made with salami, which gives the sandwiches a slightly Italian flavor. Add chunks of salami between the ham and pork and savor a fresh new flavor.
3. 3 Experiment with flavors. Want to add mayonnaise? Tomatoes? Lettuce leaves? Feel free to experiment and do as you like, this is your sandwich!
   • Cheese can be a huge field of experimentation. Try mozzarella, dorblu or emmental instead of Swiss cheese.
4. 4 Grill the ham. Add spice to the sandwich by roasting it open for 1–2 minutes so that the ham touches the grill. Then add the boiled pork and press down on the sandwich as usual.

Tips

• While homemade boiled pork is best, even if you buy it from the store, it will still work great for making a Cuban sandwich.
• Grill the bread lightly before making the sandwich for a crisper sandwich.
• Remove the meat and cheese from the refrigerator ahead of time to warm them up to room temperature when you make your sandwich. This will keep the meat hot and the cheese will melt without burning the bread.