Three Guys From Miami: Cuban and Spanish Food Recipes

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Sangüiche Cubano

Glenn Lindgren: No one is certain exactly where and when the Cuban sandwich was invented. We do know that Cuban sandwiches (called "a sandwich mixto") were common on cafeteria and restaurant menus in Cuba by the 1930s, and there is some evidence of them as early as the turn of the century.

Raúl Musibay: They were very popular with workers in Cuba's sugar mills. People set up restaurants inside the mills and sold the sandwiches to the workers on their lunch breaks.

Jorge Castillo: In the Province of Oriente, the eastern part of Cuba, they eat a different version of the Cuban sandwich. It is exactly like the traditional Cuban sandwich, but the bread is rubbed with garlic first.

Glenn Lindgren: The Cuban is a sandwich with universal appeal because it's a combination of ingredients that are almost universally loved. The Cubano is basically a grilled ham and cheese sandwich – a type of sandwich you'll find in many cuisines from the simple grilled American cheese and white bread sandwich many Americans grew up with to the French croque-monsieur.

Jorge Castillo: How does such a simple sandwich create so much passion? The Cuban sandwich is nothing more than a loaf of Cuban bread, cut in half, buttered on both sides, and stuffed with dill pickles, roast pork, ham, and Swiss cheese – not exactly rocket science.

Glenn Lindgren: What makes a true Cuban sandwich is the exact combination of ingredients. It's a very simple recipe: pickles, pork, ham, cheese, and bread. The pork adds the Cuban touch as it is slow roasted with plenty of mojo, a delicious citrus and garlic marinade.

Raúl Musibay: To make the traditional toasted and flattened Cuban sandwich, restaurants use a special press, called a plancha – think Panini press without the ridges. What makes the Cuban sandwich great is that they are pressed between the two hot plates of the plancha. You end up with a sandwich that is thin, hot, crispy, and oozing delicious melted cheese.

Glenn Lindgren: No plancha at your place? No problem! We've had great success pressing them on a griddle with a bacon press, or heavy cast iron pan. Many home cooks use a brick wrapped in aluminum foil.

Raúl Musibay: Of course there is only one bread that works best, and that's Cuban bread. If you can't get your hands on any, a fresh loaf of French bread can be substituted, with less than ideal results – but hey, if you're hungry enough... Ideally, you need a loaf that is crusty on the outside and soft in the middle.

Jorge Castillo: Never use a baguette, which is too narrow and too hard to press correctly!

Glenn Lindgren: The best Cuban sandwich places in the country use a variety of Cuban bread , called "pan de agua." This bread is longer and thinner than a typical bakery loaf and slightly under baked so that when it arrives from the bakery the crust is only lightly browned. This allows the sandwich to spend more time on the plancha without getting overly brown. The result is a sandwich that is golden brown and crunchy.

Raúl Musibay: Desperation is the mother of invention, and when you really want a Cuban sandwich, you will use whatever bread you can find!

Glenn Lindgren: When away from Miami, I have used everything from an Italian loaf to a hoagie roll. Another option that works very well is Mexican bolillo bread. It makes a smaller, medianoche sized sandwich. Finally, if you have a Jimmy John's franchise in your area, stop in and buy a loaf or two of their bread to go. The bread is very similar to a pan de agua, and compresses nicely. Jimmy John's sells day-old loaves for 50 cents and most locations will sell you a freshly baked loaf for a dollar. Ask!

Jorge Castillo: The same ingredients used in the Cuban sandwich are also used on a smaller bread made from a sweeter egg dough and called a "medianoche" or "midnight" sandwich. The smaller version was designed to be a midnight snack, and that's how it got its name!

Raúl Musibay: In Tampa, they add Genoa salami to their Cuban sandwiches! That is something you won't find on a Cuban sandwich anywhere else!

Jorge Castillo: Only in Tampa!

Glenn Lindgren: In the early days of Ybor City, where the Cuban sandwich was popularized, the only ethnic group as numerous as the Cubans were the Italians. So it's understandable that there was a little blending of the two cultures, at least when it came to Genoa Salami on a Cuban sandwich.

Jorge Castillo: One thing is certain. Once you've had a Cuban sandwich, you'll crave them forever!

How to Make the Best Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)

The best Cuban sandwich makers in Miami have elevated sandwich making to an art form. The larger restaurants station the sandwich maker in a prominent spot where everyone can enjoy the show. Armed with a long, thin, serrated knife, the sandwich maker expertly cuts the ham and pork, usually from a whole pork leg. Using the flat surface of the broad knife, he artfully arranges the layers of meat onto the sandwich.

Cuban Sandwich (Cubano) Recipe

By Three Guys From Miami

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 sandwiches

The Cuban Sandwich (Cubano) is basically a grilled ham and cheese sandwich – Cuban style!

INGREDIENTS:

1 loaf Cuban bread
3 tablespoons butter
1 pound ham
1 pound Cuban pork (lechón asado)
1/2 pound Swiss cheese
15 slices dill pickles

To make four generous Cuban sandwiches (Cubanos):

Preheat a pancake griddle or large fry pan to medium hot.

Cut the bread into sections about 8 inches long. Cut these in half and generously spread butter on both halves (inside.)

Make each Cuban sandwich (Cubano) with the ingredients in this order: pickles, roasted pork, ham, and cheese. Be generous!

NOTE: Most people use a sweet cured ham (jamón dulce) or bolo ham for Cuban sandwiches (Cubanos). If you can find these hams in your area, great. Otherwise, look for a slightly sweet, soft textured ham with a mild taste. You don't want the flavor of the ham to overpower the rest of the ingredients! Also, never use shaved ham or pork in a Cubano sandwich!

Spread a little butter on the hot griddle or fry pan and place the Cubano sandwich on the pan. Use a heavy skillet, bacon press, or foil-wrapped brick to flatten the sandwich. (You really want to smash the Cubano sandwich, compressing the bread to about 1/3 its original size!)

Grill the sandwiches for two to three minutes then flip them over to toast the other side. Once the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown on both sides, the Cubano sandwiches are done.

Make sure your griddle or fry pan is not TOO HOT! Otherwise, the crust will burn before the cheese melts.

Slice the sandwich in half diagonally and serve.

NOTES:

Tip: Let your meats and cheese come to room temperature. This way you avoid over toasting the bread and the cheese melts perfectly! This is especially helpful when you have a lot of meat in your Cubano sandwich.

Most people use a sweet cured ham (jamón dulce) or bolo ham for Cuban sandwiches (Cubanos.) If you can find these hams in your area, great. Otherwise, look for a slightly sweet, soft textured ham with a mild taste. You don't want the flavor of the ham to overpower the rest of the ingredients! Also, never use shaved ham or pork in a Cubano sandwich!

You may substitute French bread if you must, but NOT a baguette! Additional bread options: hoagie roll, Mexican bolillo, or Jimmy John's loaf.

Use a mild Swiss cheese. We like Baby Swiss, it has only a few holes.

For extra flavor, sprinkle a little mojo (or meat juices if you make the recipe below) on the meat before adding the cheese.

Although one might encounter numerous variations across the country, a traditional Cubano sandwich does not include mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce, or tomato. (Some people just do not know when to leave a classic alone!)

Even using mustard is a personal choice. We find that the best Cubano sandwiches don't need it. The butter, natural meat juices and yes – even the pickle juice give it all of the moistness and flavor it needs.

However, at lunch counters, we've seen many people dipping their Cubano sandwich into a little mustard. So it is perfectly acceptable to serve these condiments "on the side."

Anyone who makes a Cuban sandwich (Cubano) with garlic aioli (as we see so often in restaurants in the rest of the country) either has delusions of grandeur or just doesn't get the concept!

And yes, people from Tampa, we know you claim to have invented the Cubano sandwich (we're not even going to go there!) and it isn't a Cuban sandwich without Genoa salami – but that is an addition that is unique to Tampa. You won't find salami on a Cubano sandwich in just about any city that we know about!

So Tampa Cubans, take pride in the fact that your Cubano sandwich is truly unique. As for the argument that a "true Cubano sandwich" is never pressed, if you really like it that way in Tampa, more power to you!

Medianoche

One variation of the Cuban Sandwich (Cubano) is perfectly authentic: take the exact same ingredients as the Cuban sandwich and place them on a smaller medianoche bread loaf made from sweeter egg dough and you have a "medianoche" or "midnight" sandwich, so named because it makes a great midnight snack.

This sweeter bread, and smaller size, is the only difference between a medianoche and a Cuban sandwich!

Our friend Alton Brown over at the Food Network has the craziest recommendation we have ever heard of for making a Cubano sandwich. He writes:

"If you don't have a sandwich press, you can heat 6 fireplace bricks wrapped in foil, in a 500 degrees F oven for 1 hour and then press the sandwich between them for 10 minutes."

Really Alton? That sure sounds like overkill! Every home cook has a frying pan or griddle. A foil wrapped brick makes a nice weight to keep the sandwich compressed while you cook it ON ONE SIDE. Then, you simply remove the brick, flip the sandwich over, and finish cooking on the other side. The brick (or any weight you use to flatten the sandwich) does NOT have to be hot!!

Home sandwich makers have been cooking Cubano sandwiches this way for years – long before the popularity of the panini presses or the George Foreman grill!

The only possible way Alton's suggestion makes any sense is if you are on one of those survival shows and all they have given you to survice are six bricks, aluminum foil, a fire – and oh yeah, Cuban bread, pickles. pork, ham, and Swiss cheese.

Sounds like a party...

How to Make the Best Roast Pork For Cubano Sandwiches

Mash garlic, salt, and peppercorns into a paste, using a mortar and pestle. Stir in sour orange juice, onion, and oregano. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Heat the olive oil in a 2-quart saucepan until hot, but NOT deep frying hot! We're looking for something in the neighborhood of 220 degrees F. Remove the oil from heat and quickly whisk in the garlic-orange juice mixture until well blended. Let cool before using as a marinade!

Pierce pork roast as many times as you can with a sharp knife or fork. Pour garlic mixture (save a little for basting while roasting) over pork, cover and let sit in refrigerator for two to three hours.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Using a suitable roasting pan, sprinkle remaining marinade over pork and cook uncovered at 375°F for 20 minutes. Immediately reduce temperature to 225° degrees F and cook until the meat is soft and you can pull it apart easily with a fork. Baste occasionally while roasting.

Bring the pan juices to a boil and simmer until the juice is reduced by half. Sprinkle some juice onto the pork when you put it in the sandwich.

INGREDIENTS:

(1) 4- to 6-pound pork shoulder roast (NOTE: You'll only need about 1 pound of the cooked meat for the Cuban sandwich recipe above.)

1 head garlic – about 10 to 15 cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 cup sour orange juice (If you can't get sour oranges in your area, use two parts fresh orange to one part fresh lemon and one part fresh lime)
1 cup minced onion
2 teaspoons oregano
1/2 cup Spanish olive oil