Tampa Cuban Hand Pies Recipes

TAMPA CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Prepare the pork: Cut small slits all over the meat with a knife and put skin-side down in a roasting pan. Mix the lime juice and orange juice in a measuring cup. Transfer 1/4 cup juice mixture to a food processor; add the garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and pulse to make a paste. Rub over the pork and into the slits. Pour the remaining 3/4 cup juice over the pork; press the bay leaves on top. Cover and refrigerate 3 to 6 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Turn the pork skin-side up and roast until a thermometer inserted into the middle registers 160 degrees F, about 2 hours, 30 minutes. Cool completely before slicing. (Refrigerate leftover pork in an airtight container up to 1 week.)
• Make the sandwich: Cut the bread in half lengthwise. Layer the ham, 3 thin slices roast pork, the salami, cheese and pickles on the bottom half. Spread the mustard on the inside of the top half. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Butter the outside of the sandwich, then add to the pan and put a heavy skillet on top to weigh it down; cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side (or cook in a sandwich press). Cut in half on the diagonal.
• In any Cuban sandwich, mojo-marinated pork is key. Look for bottled marinade in Latin markets, or try this recipe from Tampa's legendary Columbia Restaurant.

TAMPA CUBAN HAND PIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove dough from the can and roll out into a 9x16-inch rectangle. Cut into 4 equal rectangles.
• Place 1 rectangle horizontally on a work surface. Brush mustard over the surface, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Arrange ham, pork, salami, Swiss cheese, and 2 pickle chips, in that order, on the left side of the rectangle. Leave the border and right side of the dough exposed.
• Whisk egg and milk together to make an egg wash. Brush around the border. Fold the right side over the filling and press to seal; crimp the edges with a fork. Cut a few small slits in the top of the hand pie to vent. Brush some egg wash over the top.
• Repeat with remaining dough, mustard, filling, and egg wash. Arrange hand pies on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crisp and golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Cover with foil if starting to brown too quickly. Remove pies to a rack to cool for 5 minutes.

CUBANO PIES AS MADE BY VIVIAN HERNANDEZ-JACKSON RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the Cuban-style pork: Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
• In a small bowl, mix together the cumin, oregano, salt, and Sazón.
• Place the pork shoulder in a 9 x 13-inch (22 x 33 c,m) ( baking dish. Sprinkle the spice mixture all over, then pour the mojo marinade and water on top.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Transfer the pork to the oven and bake for 10 hours, until extremely tender and the liquid has reduced.
• Drain the liquid from the pan into a bowl and set aside. Using 2 forks, shred the pork, discarding any fatty bits. Pour the reserved braising liquid over the pork and toss until well combined. You should have about 4 cups. The pork will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use, up to 4 days.
• Make the cubano pies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Lay 1 sheet of puff pastry on a clean surface and use a knife or pizza cutter to mark 9 squares.
• Scoop 3 heaping tablespoons of Cuban-style pork onto each square (save the leftover pork for another use). Top each portion with 2 pickle slices, a drizzle of yellow mustard, and a half slice of Swiss cheese.
• Gently lay the remaining sheet of puff pastry over the pork mounds. Use your fingers to press the dough together around the edges, then between the squares. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut through to make 9 individual squares.
• Transfer the pies to the prepared baking sheets. Brush the tops with the beaten egg.
• Bake for 25-35 minutes, until deep golden brown and firm.
• Meanwhile, combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 3 minutes, until the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat.
• Remove the Cubano pies from the oven and immediately brush with the cinnamon syrup. Serve warm.
• Enjoy!