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Cubano Sandwiches

Our recent Havana Nights party is still very fresh in my mind and I'm hungry just thinking about the wonderful dishes we made. While our main dish, Arroz con Pollo, was cooking up, we all whet our appetite with one of my favorite sandwiches - Cubano Sandwiches. The seasoned slices of pork roast and bite of dill pickle elevates this sandwich into something beyond the typical ham and cheese you may be familiar with...


 This is not your regular ham and cheese sandwich. To make it special, slices of pork and dill pickle make their appearance alongside ham, swiss and mayo/mustard. There's something about the combination of all these ingredients that really work! But it's not just the fillings of this sandwich that make it so delicious. There's magic in the bread used. Your everyday sliced bread isn't going to cut it. Not even French bread. Cuban bread is ideal in making this sandwich because toasts up so beautifully with a buttery crispness on the outside, yet soft and delicate on the inside. Granted, Cuban bread may not be easily available in your area but there is a good substitution. If you have a Latin market, look for bolillo bread. Some supermarket chains also carry this in their fresh bakery section. Bolillo bread is traditional Mexican and is football shaped. When toasted or pressed, as in this sandwich, it comes out wonderfully and can really hold this sandwich together. That's what I used for our Havana Nights Party and it worked perfectly in lieu of traditional Cuban bread...
Cubano Sandwiches
recipe adapted from Alton Brown

1 loaf (12-inch) Cuban bread or Mexican bolillo rolls
2 tablespoons mayonnaise or mustard, or to taste
2 slices kosher dill pickle, very thinly sliced lengthwise
3 to 4 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices of seasoned roast pork
4 slices black forest ham
Melted butter or cooking spray
Heat the panini press to 350 degrees.

Slice the bread or rolls in half lengthwise and spread the mayo or mustard on the bottom bread. Layer the roast pork, ham, pickle and cheese {in this order} onto the bottom bread.

Place the sandwich on hot panini press and spread a little melted butter on top of the bread or spray with cooking spray. Press down the top part of the plancha and allow to toast and crisp up until cheese melts through, roughly 7-10 minutes. Slice on a bias and serve hot.
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21 comments

  1. Those look fantastic. I just saw a similar sandwich on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives but they put Capicola on it as well.

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  2. Hey a fellow Midwesterner! Hey! I'm in Indy - these look awesome. My boys and I will be trying these out. :)

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  3. They look delicious! I am totally hungry this morning and I can smell them from here :)

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  4. Love Cuban sandwiches! And all food! That's the problem!
    Will I see you next week?
    Mitch

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  5. Oh my goodness!!! These look delicious!
    Pinning!!!

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  6. I never had Cubano Sandwiches and now I am hooked. What an awesome recipe for something that my entire family likes.

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  8. These look delicious! I'm going to have to check to see if my grocery store carries the Cuban bread, it looks yummy!

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  9. I've had these before and they are soooo good!

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  10. Love sandwiches cubanos! I'm hungry just thinking about it. Thanks for the recipe!

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  12. Yum!! My husband would love it, just as it is! I would have to change out the cheese cause I don't like Swiss. But everything else sounds delicious!

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  13. mmm those look tasty! would love one for lunch right now :)

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  14. My husband would love to try this! Thanks!

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  15. YUM!!! My husband could eat these every day :)

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  16. Dill pickles makes anything yummmy!!

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  17. Now I'm hungry! LOL! I just bookmarked this recipe because my daughter and I love the ones they sell at Panera and this recipe looks even better.

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  18. Do they carry the sliced seasoned roast pork in most of the delis where you live? We live in Alabama and although I may have just overlooked it, I don't think we have anything like seasoned pork here in our local delis. Boar's Head does have a product they call PORKETTA. There is a store near us that carries some Boar's Head meat so they might could get it. Is there something you would suggest substituting for it or what would be your best suggestion if I could not get that? Thanks!

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  19. I called and Publix here doesn't carry the Boar's Head PORKETTA, but they said they have Publix brand Spanish Pork that they use for the Cuban sandwiches they make. Do you think Spanish Pork will work ok?

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  20. @Beyond Sunday Morning - a good and easy alternative is getting thinly cut boneless pork chops or just getting thick porkchops you can slice thinly yourself. Season and pan fry or roast to cook up and use in the sandwiches. Hope this helps!

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  21. That looks so good! Thanks for sharing.

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