Authentic Cubano Sandwich

An Authentic Cubano Sandwich means slow cooked pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles on Cuban rolls. 

Authentic Cubano Sandwich

Have you seen the movie ‘Chef’ (Jefe) with Jon Favreau? If you did you’ll understand why making an Authentic Cubano Sandwiches was on my mind.

An Authentic Cubano Sandwich means slow cooked pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles on Cuban rolls. I couldn’t find the rolls but managed with sub rolls and these are amazing! Maybe just ‘Close to Cubano?

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I seldom go to the movies; preferring to wait until they are available at home but my friend Jane and I decided to go out and about one afternoon a couple of months ago and our plans included a movie and dinner afterwards so we could do some catching up.

The movie was a perfect choice; we are both immersed in food culture in different ways and that synergy saw both of us really enjoy this tale of a man with a passion for cooking but one also ready for a change.

It’s a charming movie with a significant human touch filled with small parts by well known stars including Dustin Hoffman, Scarlett Johansson , Robert Downey. Jr, John Leguizamo and Sofia Vergara.

Still, the story revolves around the main character played by Favreau and giving you any information about the plot line might be giving away too much but suffice to say that a Cubano Sandwich takes on the role of a supporting character and definitely a character I wanted to know better.

jon-favreau-in-chef-movie-5

In watching the movie, I imagined a back story of legions of Cubans flocking to Florida in exile and bringing with them some traditions that were resurrected in the adopted communities where they settled in America.

In this case I would be wrong. A Cubano sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese that was often made in cafes catering to Cuban workers in the early Cuban immigrant communities of Florida; Key West and Ybor City, Tampa.

That the ingredients include flavors of the tropics should come as no surprise and to be honest, the braising liquid consisting of lime and orange juices along with peppery spices made for a pork offering that goes beyond a mere sandwich.

I love this sandwich but I made extra pork and the flavors have been just as great when used in a burrito bowl with rice and beans or as an accompaniment for eggs one morning for breakfast.

Cubano Sandwich from @everydayum

Cuisinart had given me a fantastic countertop grill/panini press that had been relegated to a cabinet and never used that I knew would be perfect (and now that I have used it I want it on the counter ALL the time!).

I bought my pork at Costco and it was my error that I ended up putting the entire package into the freezer. A package that actually contained two pork shoulders so when I decided to cook the meat for Cubanos I had almost 14 pounds of pork. One shoulder went into the slow cooker and another was cooked in a Dutch oven.

Both were excellent but if choosing, you can’t beat a slow cooker for this recipe; I love the advantage of set it and forget it!

Cubano Sandwich from @everydayum

This is not a pretty sandwich filled with colors of the rainbow and offering the perfect presentation for a photo. But inside this ugly duckling is indeed a swan; you have to look beyond the outside and discover what lies within.

Imagine that juicy flavorful pork combined with ham, pickles and melting cheese. So good. And you know what? For once in a blue moon I choose not to mess with success. This sandwich is what it is and I chose to stick with that.

Yellow mustard when you really love whole grain? Check. Little sliced pickles and not an uber brand of something fancier? Check again.

With some irony though I have to admit I used a recipe of Tyler Florence’s; he not of any Cuban lineage but it simply looked and sounded perfect.

Plus the reviews, even from Cubans, were so positive that I trusted I had found a good one.

Tyler did cook his in a pressure cooker but I choose to go more old school since I had so much to prepare. No fancy sauce or dolling it up in other ways either. And it worked; we loved it just the way it was.

I invited several families over to share. Ten adults, 8 kids (someone is always missing from a photo!) and everyone loved them; I was SO grateful I had meat in abundance as that plate kept disappearing as fast as I could put more on the griddle.

Do yourself a favor. Make these and get that movie and have an Authentic Cubano Sandwich Party…everyone loves them!

And don’t forget…I better be invited!

PIN IT! ‘Authentic Cubano Sandwich’

Cubano Sandwich Cut and Stacked on Plate

Cubano Sandwich on White Plate
Cubano Sandwich Cut and Stacked on Plate

Authentic Cubano Sandwich

Barbara Baker
A Cuban tradition, this sandwich is a great meal for a crowd and is indescribably delicious!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 35 minutes
Course Pork
Cuisine Cuban
Servings 15 Sandwiches
Calories 533 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Pork

  • 5 pounds boneless pork shoulder
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and gently smashed with the side of your knife
  • ½ teaspoon dried red chili flakes
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 1 ½ cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 limes juiced
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 bay leaves

To Make each Sandwich

  • 1 Cuban or Subway style roll
  • Yellow mustard
  • Medium sliced Cuban pork
  • Thin sliced deli ham
  • 2 slices Swiss cheese per sandwich
  • Bread and butter pickles
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Butter

Instructions
 

To Cook the Pork

  • Season the pork with salt, pepper, cumin and oregano. Add the olive oil to a Dutch oven and brown the pork on all sides.
  • At this point you can continue to cook in the Dutch oven or move the pork to a slow cooker.
  • Add garlic and chili flakes and stir until fragrant; add the onions and brown slightly before adding the pork, orange juice, lime juice, stock, and bay leaves.
  • Cook covered in a 300 degree oven until tender or on low heat for 4-6 hours in the crockpot.
  • When done allow to cool in juices before removing and slicing.

To Prepare Cubano Sandwiches

  • Split bread in half then layer the sandwich with mustard, cheese, pickles, ham, pork then cheese again.
  • Season with salt and pepper in between the ham and pork layers. Drizzle a little of the pork braising liquid over the meat as well.
  • Butter the press, place the sandwiches on the surface and press down firmly until the sandwich has compressed to about a third of its original size.
  • Cook the sandwiches about 5 minutes per side until browned and cheese has melted. They should be ‘smushed’ and crispy.

Notes

I used a Panini press to grill my sandwiches but if you don’t have one, you can use a large cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
Butter the skillet, put in sandwiches and top with another buttered heavy skillet filled with heavy weights – cans of tomatoes work well; flip halfway through cooking.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Authentic Cubano Sandwich
Serving Size
 
1 Sandwich
Amount per Serving
Calories
533
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
31
g
48
%
Cholesterol
 
157
mg
52
%
Sodium
 
742
mg
32
%
Carbohydrates
 
12
g
4
%
Protein
 
51
g
102
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Calories
533
Keyword cubano, pork, sandwich
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Some Oldies but Goodies!

10 Comments

  1. The city I work in has a large cuban community to cuban sandwiches are in great abundance. They’re a favorite of mine yet I’ve never taken the time to make them at home. Now, I think I need to change that.

    1. You should make it Kate; the pork is just SO good I highly suggesting making more than you need and having leftovers for other experiments.

    1. Then if you haven’t seen the movie you need to! We did love them; I made SO many that I was able to freeze a whole bunch and just pull them out and heat them on the griddle a bit for lunch. Perfect.

  2. This recipe looks just like the Cubanos made in the movie Chef…Jefe. Loved the movie and now my mouth is watering to try this recipe at home! Thanks for sharing

    1. I can’t believe it took me so long but I needed the right recipe and the time and of course the willing neighbors! The pork is SO good Laura and really everything about it is easy…hope you enjoy it too!

  3. My husband and I recently watched “Chef” on a recommendation of my youngest son, and it was such a touching, feel good movie, with some focus on the food. Cuban sandwiches are one of our favorites. Enjoy them if you are heading to Ybor City in FL, as well. Thank you so much for your always entertaining, and delightful posts.

    1. Wasn’t it a great movie. If you haven’t seen it yet I also loved ‘The Hundred Foot Journey’ – another beautiful story with food beautifully entwined. Thanks you for your sweet comment Doris; means so much!

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