Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)
A pressed Cuban sandwich layered with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard, griddled in butter until crisp, flat and melty.
By Tasty Nest Recipes Editorial TeamPublished
20 min total 4 sandwichesEasy
Photo: get directly down · CC BY 2.0. Illustrative photo; your results may look different.
About this recipe
The Cubano, made famous in Miami and Tampa, layers roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles and yellow mustard inside Cuban bread, then presses it on a hot griddle until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts.
You do not need a sandwich press: a heavy skillet or a foil-wrapped brick on top works perfectly. Leftover roast pork is ideal, but good deli roast pork works too.
Equipment you'll need
- Large skillet or griddle
- Heavy pan or brick wrapped in foil
Tips for success
- Put cheese on both the top and bottom layers; it melts and glues the sandwich together.
- Keep the heat at medium so the centre warms before the bread burns.
- Leftover roast pork shoulder or loin works beautifully; slice it thinly.
Substitutions and variations
- Use a ciabatta loaf if you cannot find Cuban bread.
- Add a few slices of Genoa salami for a Tampa-style Cubano.
- Use a panini press instead of a skillet.
Storage and reheating
To store: Best eaten hot. Refrigerate leftover sandwiches, wrapped, for up to 2 days.
To reheat: Re-press in a skillet over medium-low heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side until hot throughout.
Recipe
Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)
A pressed Cuban sandwich layered with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard, griddled in butter until crisp, flat and melty.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 sandwiches
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
Tick off ingredients as you gather them.
Instructions
Step 1: Assemble
Split the bread lengthwise. Spread both cut sides with mustard, then layer the cheese, ham, roast pork, pickles and more cheese on the bottom halves. Close the sandwiches.
Step 2: Butter the outside
Spread the outside of each sandwich with softened butter.
Step 3: Press and cook
Heat the skillet over medium heat. Place the sandwiches in the pan, set a heavy pan on top and press down. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side, until the bread is golden and flattened and the cheese is melted.
Step 4: Slice
Cut each sandwich in half diagonally and serve hot.
Cuisine: Cuban-American · Course: Lunch
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 680
- Protein
- 45 g
- Fat
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
- Sugars
- 5 g
Approximate values estimated from typical nutrition data for the listed ingredients, excluding optional toppings and serving suggestions. Actual values vary with brands, portion sizes and substitutions. Not verified by a dietitian or laboratory analysis.
tastynestrecipes.com/recipes/cuban-sandwich
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