Cuban Sandwich With Zucchini Pickles Recipes

THROWDOWN CUBAN SANDWICH WITH HOMEMADE PICKLES

Steps:

• Pork: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Season the pork with salt, pepper and cumin. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large Dutch oven until it begins to shimmer. Add the pork and cook until golden brown on all sides.
• Add the stock, juices, vinegar, garlic, onions, bay leaves and oregano, bring to a simmer, cover and transfer to the oven. Braise until fork tender (between 180 and 190 degrees F), about 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours. Remove from the oven, transfer pork to a platter and let rest 15 minutes before slicing or shredding.
• Strain the braising liquid into a medium pan, bring to a boil and let reduced slightly, adding honey and salt and pepper if needed. Toss some of the braising liquid with the shredded pork to moisten.
• Homemade Pickles: Put the sliced cucumber in a medium bowl (which has a fitted lid).
• Combine 1 cup of water, the vinegar, dill, sugar, garlic, salt, dill, mustard and coriander seeds in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar and salt is dissolved. Remove from the heat and taste for tartness, add more sugar if too sour and let cool to room temperature.
• Pour the cooled liquid over the cucumbers, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours, stirring the mixture at least once.
• Roasted Garlic-Dijon Aioli: Whisk together mayonnaise, mustard and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using to allow the flavors to meld.
• For Sandwiches: Spread both cut sides of the bread with a tablespoon or so of aioli. Add the pork, a few slices ham, and a generous layer of pickles. Top with a few slices cheese.
• Press the sandwiches in a hot panini grill until outside is toasty and cheese is melted.

TOASTED CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, cilantro, green onions, ground chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic basil spread, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir onions, red pepper flakes, and oregano in the hot oil until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Add half the jalapeno pepper rings and cook until they begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve remaining jalapeno rings.
• Spread each ciabatta roll with 1 tablespoon sweet hot mustard and 2 tablespoons chipotle mayonnaise. Evenly divide the Swiss cheese slices, slices of pork loin, ham, dill pickles, and remaining jalapeno rings among the four sandwiches. Top with cooked onion mixture.
• Place sandwiches onto a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bread is toasted and warm, 4 to 5 minutes.

CUBAN CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Place chicken tenders between 2 sheets of heavy plastic on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet until flattened out. Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag and add enough mojo marinade to cover the chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or up to overnight.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove chicken tenders from the marinade, drain, and place in the skillet. Cook until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Add sliced onions to the same skillet, adding a bit more oil if necessary, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from skillet.
• Cut Cuban bread into 4 rolls. Slice each in half lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Cover the bottom and the top of each roll with yellow mustard. Assemble the sandwich by placing pickle slices on the bottom, followed by chicken, Swiss cheese, and onion. Cut each sandwich in half at an angle, and serve.

ORIGINAL CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut Cuban bread to desired size, common size is 7 inches. Next, slice open the bread down the middle. On the topside of the bread spread 1-ounce of mustard, evenly across. Then place 4 pickles on top of the mustard. You then place 1 slice of Swiss cheese on top of the pickles. Slice ham to desired thickness, recommended size is 1 1/2 ounces per slice, the thinner the better. Now fold each slice of ham in half and place evenly on bottom of bread. On top of the ham, place slices of roast pork, 1 1/2 ounces per slice. You then join both halves of the sandwich. You are now ready to grill your Cuban sandwich.
• Use a sandwich grill if you have one, a waffle iron if not. Spread butter on top of the bread evenly. Close the grill, smashing the sandwich. Leave sandwich in the grill until top of bread turns to a golden brown, and top is crisp. Approximate time is 4 to 6 minutes. After the sandwich is crispy and the cheese has melted, remove the sandwich carefully and slice it diagonally, from corner to corner. DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE OVEN!

CUBAN SANDWICH WITH ZUCCHINI PICKLES

Steps:

• zucchini pickles Bring vinegar, sugar, turmeric, mustard powder, and mustard seeds to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Let cool. Toss zucchini, onion, and salt in a large bowl and let stand until zucchini releases moisture, 30-35 minutes. Pat zucchini and onion dry and transfer to a large jar. Pour pickling liquid over vegetables to submerge. Cover and chill at least 12 hours. Do Ahead: Zucchini can be pickled 4 days ahead. Keep chilled. shredded pork and assembly Preheat oven to 300°. Combine onion, carrot, celery, oregano, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and broth in a Dutch oven or other large pot. Place pork on top of vegetables and drizzle with oil; season pork with salt and pepper. Cover and braise, turning pork occasionally, until pork is just falling apart, 3½-4 hours. Let cool. Transfer pork to a large bowl, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid, and shred with a fork. Add cooking liquid as needed to moisten pork (you may not use all of it). Meanwhile, increase oven temperature to 400°. Mix mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl and set aside. Place both halves of buns, cut side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Layer soppressata, pork, and cheese on bottom halves of buns and bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Top bottom halves of buns with pickles; spread top halves of buns with reserved mayonnaise mixture and form sandwiches.

CUBAN SANDWICH WITH ZUCCHINI PICKLES

Steps:

• ZUCCHINI PICKLES
• Bring vinegar, sugar, turmeric, mustard powder, and mustard seeds to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Let cool. Toss zucchini, onion, and salt in a large bowl and let stand until zucchini releases moisture, 30-35 minutes. Pat zucchini and onion dry and transfer to a large jar. Pour pickling liquid over vegetables to submerge. Cover and chill at least 12 hours.
• DO AHEAD: Zucchini can be pickled 4 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• SHREDDED PORK AND ASSEMBLY
• Preheat oven to 300°. Combine onion, carrot, celery, oregano, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and broth in a Dutch oven or other large pot. Place pork on top of vegetables and drizzle with oil; season pork with salt and pepper. Cover and braise, turning pork occasionally, until pork is just falling apart, 3½-4 hours. Let cool. Transfer pork to a large bowl, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid, and shred with a fork. Add cooking liquid as needed to moisten pork (you may not use all of it).
• Meanwhile, increase oven temperature to 400°. Mix mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl and set aside. Place both halves of buns, cut side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Layer soppressata, pork, and cheese on bottom halves of buns and bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Top bottom halves of buns with pickles; spread top halves of buns with reserved mayonnaise mixture and form sandwiches.
• DO AHEAD: Pork can be braised and shredded 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

LAUREL'S CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Slice French loaf in half lengthwise to make a sandwich. (If loaf is very fat, slice off narrow pieces from the inner part of each slice to make a thinner sandwich.).
• Mix together mayonnaise, sofrito sauce, and honey to make a sauce. Spread this sauce on both sides of sandwich. Then spread on mustard.
• Place ham, roast pork, dill pickles, sweet onion, green olives, and Swiss cheese on bottom layer of sandwich. Put sandwich together, brush both sides with melted butter, and wrap smoothly and tightly in foil.
• Place wrapped sandwich, bottom side down, in preheated (medium heat) skillet, and press down with something heavy, such as a foil-wrapped brick.) I use a cast iron skillet with large tomato juice cans inside.
• When you hear the butter sizzling, leave sandwich 3-4 minutes, then flip it onto it's top and press again, leaving it for 3-4 minutes more. Remove sandwich from heat and let rest for 3 minutes. Unwrap, slice, and enjoy!