It's amazing that something so simple can be completely delicious and stand the test of time like South Florida's favourite sandwich - el Cubano! In honour of our recent holiday which included a few nights in South Beach, Miami and one of my favourite foodie movies Chef - I'm sharing my wife's version of a classic Cuban sandwich.
The flavours are fairly simple so the roast pork has to be full of flavour and the mustard and pickle certainly help pack a punch. These are also fantastic made using slider rolls for a tasty starter for any gathering.
In our research, we have found that two south Florida cities - one on the east coast, Miami... and one on the west coast, Tampa - stake claim to the Cuban sandwich as it is known today. You could say it is the Pavlova of South Florida! 😂 And with all good 'traditional' recipes there are many variations depending on available ingredients and cultural influences.
Citrus Roast Pork 1.5kg Boneless Pork Leg Roast 1TB Cumin 2t Coriander 2t Smoked Paprika 1t Paprika 1t Garlic Powder 1t Celery Salt 1t White Pepper 1t Black Pepper 3 bay leaves 1 Onion, peeled and cut into wedges 1 Orange, zested & chopped into quarters 1 Lemon, zested & chopped into quarters 1 Head of Garlic, sliced in half 1 Bottle of Apple or Pear Cider Extra Virgin Olive Oil In a slow cooker, add the onion, citrus slices, garlic and bay leaves along with the bottle of cider. Mix all the spices together in a small bowl and rub all over the pork roast. Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat and sear the pork on all sides until golden brown. You can skip this step but it really adds a great depth of flavour. Once seared, place in slow cooker on top of onion and citrus, cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours until cooked through. Let rest in juices, thinly slice just before assembling sandwiches. Cuban Sandwich Soft baguette, try to find the softest one available as you'll be toasting it Ham, thinly sliced Roast Pork, sliced Swiss Cheese, sliced Pickle Slices American Mustard Butter, melted Black Pepper
If you have a sandwich press that is ideal here, or you can pan-fry on the stovetop with a little melted butter. Heat up your sandwich press while you assemble the sandwiches. Slice the baguette lengthwise, spread both sides of the inside of the bread with mustard and layer ham, sliced roast pork, pickles and swiss cheese. Brush the outside of the baguette with melted butter and toast until slightly golden and the swiss cheese has started to melt. Serve with a cold cerveza (beer) and enjoy with mates!