Cubano International Sandwich Recipes

CUBANO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Split open and quarter 1 loaf French bread. Mix 2 tablespoons each mayonnaise and dijon mustard and spread on the bread. Sandwich with sliced Swiss cheese, deli-style ham, roast pork, pickles and more cheese. Butter the sandwiches, then cook in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, pressing with a heavy skillet, 2 minutes. Flip, reduce the heat to medium low and cook, pressing, until golden, 1 more minute.
• Quick pickles:
• Bring 3/4 cup water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 3 tablespoons chopped onion, 1 tablespoon each salt and sugar, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes and 3 minced garlic cloves to a boil; cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Pour over 1 sliced peeled large cucumber in a bowl and stir. Refrigerate 15 minutes.

CUBANO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Spread mustard on the cut sides of the bread. Sandwich with the roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles.
• Brush the outside of the sandwich with melted butter and wrap in foil. Place between 2 baking sheets and press down with an ovenproof skillet. Transfer the sandwich (with the baking sheet and skillet on top) to the oven and bake until warmed through and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then unwrap and cut into 4 pieces.

CUBAN SANDWICH (CUBANO)

Steps:

• Heat your skillet or griddle: I like to use two cast iron skillets nested on top of one another, pressing the sandwich in between. To use this method, place both skillets (one on top of the other) over medium heat and let them heat through. If using a panini press set it to medium heat. The skillet or griddle shouldn't be screaming hot, but it should radiate enough heat to toast the bread slowly. If you aren't using the double pan method or a panini press, just use anything you have to weigh the sandwich down - a foil wrapped brick, your spatula, whatever you have will do.
• Serve: Remove your sandwich from the skillet or griddle. Slice your sandwich according to the number of guests you need to serve and serve the sandwich with a handful of chips and a pickle or two. LEFTOVERS! Leftovers should be wrapped in foil and stored in the refrigerator. They may be reheated by cooking the same as above.

CUBANO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter inside of each roll; spread with mustard. Divide ham, pork, and cheese among bottom halves of rolls. Top with pickles, more mustard to taste, and top halves of rolls. Press down firmly on sandwiches.
• Heat a grill pan and another heavy pan over medium. With a paper towel, lightly coat grill pan with butter. In batches, place sandwiches on grill pan and weight with second pan. Cook until bread is crisp on the outside, about 3 minutes per side; transfer grill pan to oven and bake sandwiches until cheese has melted, about 5 minutes. To serve, cut sandwiches in half.

CHEF JOHN'S CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Mix mayonnaise, mustard, and cayenne together in a bowl to make the sauce.
• Trim off ends of bread. Cut loaf in half and evenly split bread to make tops and bottoms of 2 sandwiches. Spread each half on both sides generously with the mayo/mustard sauce.
• Divide sandwich ingredients between the two bottom halves in this order: 2 slices Swiss cheese, 3 slices ham, hot cooked pork, pickle slices, and 2 more slices of Swiss cheese. Place tops on sandwiches.
• Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in skillet and press down with a heavy weight (such as another skillet or foil-wrapped bricks). Toast sandwiches until bread is crisp and filling is heated through, 3 or 4 minutes per side.

CLASSIC CUBAN MIDNIGHT (MEDIANOCHE) SANDWICH

Steps:

• Split the sandwich rolls in half, and spread mustard and mayonnaise liberally onto the cut sides. On each sandwich, place and equal amount of Swiss cheese, ham and pork in exactly that order. Place a few pickles onto each one, and put the top of the roll onto the sandwich. Brush the tops with melted butter.
• Press each sandwich in a sandwich press heated to medium-high heat. If a sandwich press is not available, use a large skillet over medium-high heat, and press the sandwiches down using a sturdy plate or skillet. Some indoor grills may be good for this also. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, keeping sandwiches pressed. If using a skillet, you may want to flip them once for even browning. Slice diagonally and serve hot.

CUBANO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Heat a large pan or griddle with the oil to medium heat. Put the tortillas in the pan (in batches if need be) and place a slice of Swiss on each. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of the mustard over the top of each cheese slice. Stack half of the tortillas with 4 ounces of pulled pork followed by 2 slices of ham. Add 4 pickle slices on top of the ham, then top with a second tortilla (with just the cheese) to make a sandwich. Press the sandwiches lightly and allow the cheese to melt, making sure that the tortillas are nice and crispy.
• Slice the sandwiches in half 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!

CUBANO INTERNATIONAL SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut focaccia bread into 2 rounds.
• Spread cut side of round bread bottom with chipotle mayonnaise.
• Layer sliced chicken breast over mayonnaise.
• Layer sliced ham over chicken breast.
• Layer Swiss cheese over ham.
• Layer bread and butter pickles over Swiss cheese.
• On cut side of round bread top, spread mustard and place on top of the bread and butter pickles.
• Brush top of focaccia bread with oil.
• Place oiled side down onto hot grill pan.
• Top sandwich with heavy pan or skillet and press down. I used a cast iron skillet. Grill until golden brown and crispy.
• Before turning, brush the bread with oil and turn, grill weighing down again with heavy pan or skillet, until golden and crispy and cheese is melted. If you have a panini press or George Foreman grill they can also be used.
• Cut in quarters and serve with your favorite side.