How to Make the Perfect Cubano Sandwich at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're looking for a step-by-step guide to this glorious take on a ham and cheese, you've come to the right place. This sandwich is meaty, juicy, and packed with big flavors. The marriage of slow cooked mojo pork, honey ham, dill pickles, Swiss cheese, and yellow mustard makes magic when pressed between a soft loaf of bread until lightly crisp and golden. This has been tried and tested and has gotten rave reviews from our family and friends. We are sure you will love it just as much.

We made our own Cuban bread, but you can use store-bought pan de agua or any soft-crusted loaf (such as Italian). All of our recipes will show you the semi-traditional (and sometimes complicated) ways of getting from point A to point B. We will also show you how to cut some corners without sacrificing flavor. Sometimes we will show you how to just cut ALL the corners.

Life is complicated enough. Cooking shouldn't have to be.

Pan Cubano (Cuban Bread)

The likely origins of the Cubano are as a lunch staple for sugar mill and cigar factory workers between Cuba and Florida in the early 1900s. This sandwich is the source of a long-running Miami vs. Tampa rivalry with Tampa even hosting a yearly Cuban Sandwich Festival. We love a good sandwich but love a good (friendly) competition even more. Some of debate rests on the addition of one ingredient - salami. Salami. So controversial. Tampa = salami; Miami = no salami. We are lovers and not fighters, so we'll just be upfront and say, "it's not you, it's me". We are siding with Miami in this recipe, but we love you, Tampa! No matter where you stand on the details, this sandwich is sure to please.

So, let's get into it.

Cubano Sandwich - feeds 4-6

What you'll need:

• Cubano bread (or any soft-crusted loaf such as Pan de Agua or Italian bread)

• Mojo pork

• Deli honey ham

• Swiss cheese

• Dill sandwich pickles

• Yellow mustard

• Softened butter

• Panini press or cast-iron pan with additional weight (another heavy pan works well)

  
  

  Mojo Pork

  
  

  1 package pork tenderloin (generally 1-2 pounds)

  
  

  Mojo

  Orange juice

  Lemon juice

  Lime juice

  Garlic cloves

  Cumin

  Dried oregano

  Kosher salt

  Ground black pepper

  
  

  Mix all mojo ingredients and pork to marinate for 2 hours up to overnight.

  
  

  Once marinated, place pork and mojo in the crockpot and cook on low for approximately 6 hours or until you can shred it easily with a fork.

  
  

Just waiting to get married.

Sandwich construction:

Once you have your ingredients together, this sandwich comes together quickly.

1. Preheat panini press or cast-iron pan on medium heat.

2. Slice loaf in half the long way.

3. Spread yellow mustard liberally on both sides of the bread.

4. Layer remaining ingredients evenly with Swiss cheese on top to act as glue to hold the top piece of bread in place.

5. Spread the top of bread with softened butter.

6. Press the sandwich on a panini press until golden on both sides. Alternatively, you can use a cast-iron pan and place a weight on top of the sandwich (another heavier pan works well) until golden on the cooking side. If using this method, place the sandwich upside down (top side/butter side down on cooking surface). Remove the weight and flip to cook on the opposite side, replacing weight after flipping.

7. This sandwich is best when warm, crisp, and melty but can be wrapped and saved to enjoy at a later time.

   
   

   

   (left) orientation on panini press / (right) cast-iron pan

   Time to enjoy!!

   
   

   

   
   

We'd love to hear from you so let us know your experience in making this sandwich. Please leave your comments or questions below. xo YaYa & Wuelo.