Cubano Recipes

CUBANO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Spread mustard on the cut sides of the bread. Sandwich with the roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles.
• Brush the outside of the sandwich with melted butter and wrap in foil. Place between 2 baking sheets and press down with an ovenproof skillet. Transfer the sandwich (with the baking sheet and skillet on top) to the oven and bake until warmed through and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then unwrap and cut into 4 pieces.

CUBANO

Steps:

• For the pork: Combine the kosher salt, brown sugar, cumin, coriander, allspice, mustard, pepper, cloves, fennel and bay leaves. Then rub over the pork butt and set aside.
• For the marinade: Add the cilantro, garlic and salt to a food processor with 1/4 cup beer. Puree until the mixture becomes pesto-like. Then add the remaining beer, lime zest and juice and orange zest and juice. Cover the pork butt and marinate in the refrigerator for 48 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Cook the pork until the meat pulls effortlessly off the bone, about 6 hours. Pull the meat and leave in its juices.
• For the ham: Preheat the oven to 240 degrees F. Whisk the honey, mustard, brown sugar and pineapple puree. Smother over the outside of the ham. Put the ham in a roasting pan and surround with beer. Cover with tin foil. Cook until the meat pulls effortlessly off the bone, 8 to 10 hours. Pull the meat and leave in its juices.
• For the sandwich: Slice the ciabatta in half, drizzle the bread with olive oil and toast for 8 to 10 minutes. Then let it sit out for 30 minutes; the staleness of the bread will allow it to hold the juices from the pork and ham.
• To assemble: Preheat the broiler. Layer the bottom half of the bread with the pulled pork and ham. Slice the Pickles lengthwise about 1/8-inch on a mandoline and place on top of the meat. Place the Swiss cheese over the pickles and broil until the cheese is bubbly and golden, about 2 minutes. Top with other half of bread and slice the sandwich in half diagonally on a long bias. Cut into smaller sandwiches and serve with Chayote Slaw and Fried Plantains.
• Put the cucumbers in an ice bath.
• Add 12 cups water, the vinegar, fine salt, mustard seeds, peppercorns, coriander, bay leaves, garlic and dill to a large pot and bring to boil.
• Pull the cucumbers from the ice bath and add to mason jars. Carefully pour the boiling brine over the cucumbers and secure the lids, making sure the cucumbers are fully submerged. Do not refrigerate for 24 hours. Always store the pickles in the brine.
• Slice the radishes and chayote 1/4-inch thick on a mandoline. Combine with the cilantro, lime zest and lime juice in a mixing bowl and add salt to taste, adjusting the amount of lime juice as necessary.
• Score the plantains on 2 sides and peel the skin. Thinly slice small circles using a mandoline.
• Heat the oil in a deep-fryer to 325 degrees F. Add the plantains and fry for 6 to 8 minutes.
• Remove to a mixing bowl lined with a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Add the salt and sugar and toss.

CUBANO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat a sandwich press to medium heat.
• Drizzle the onion and pepper with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the onion and pepper on the sandwich press, close and cook until tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Slice into strips.
• Brush the outside of the bottom half of the bread with some of the melted butter. Brush the inside of both halves with a generous amount of the Mojo Mustard. On the bottom half of the bread, layer the sliced deli ham and top with the carnitas. Top with the gherkins, grilled onion and peppers and finally the cheese. Top with the top half of the bread and brush with more butter. Slice in half widthwise.
• Place both halves in the sandwich press, close, press down and cook until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes. Cut in half to make 4 sandwiches.
• Mix together the mustard, honey, chili paste, oregano, cumin, orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, garlic and some salt and pepper in a bowl.
• Set the slow cooker to high. Put the pork cubes in the slow cooker and season all over with the chipotle powder and some salt. Turn any pieces with the fat cap upright. Nestle in the garlic, cinnamon sticks and yellow onion. Pour the orange soda, vegetable oil and orange juice and zest over the pork. Cover and cook on high until super tender, about 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to broil.
• Transfer the pork chunks to a baking sheet fat-side up. Let the liquid in the slow cooker settle so the fat is on the surface. Scoop off about 1/4 cup of the fat and drizzle over the pork chunks. Broil until the meat is crispy and the fat is bubbly, 1 to 2 minutes.

CUBANO

Steps:

• Mix the mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl and spread evenly on the inside of the bread slices. Layer on half of the cheese, the ham, pork, Quick Garlic Pickles and the remaining cheese. Cover with another slice of bread and butter the outside (top and bottom) of the sandwich.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high heat and place the sandwiches in the pan. Top with a second cast-iron skillet to weigh the sandwiches down. After 2 minutes, turn down the heat to medium low, flip the sandwiches and weigh down again with the second skillet. Check the sandwiches after 1 more minute, and remove when golden brown and the cheese has melted.
• Ingredients and Directions
• Place the cucumber slices in a medium bowl. Heat 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan with the vinegar, onions, salt, sugar, red pepper flakes and garlic, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil 1 to 2 minutes, stirring. Remove from the heat and pour over the cucumbers and stir to coat the slices well. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes and serve.

CUBANO

Steps:

• To cure the pork, combine 2 tablespoons of the salt with the sugar and ground mustard. Rub the mixture all over the meat, cover, and set it in the refrigerator to cure for 6 hours.
• Place a rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 325°F.
• To roast the pork, rinse it under cold running water to remove the seasoning. Pat dry with paper towels. Combine the Dijon mustard, mace, black pepper, paprika, and the remaining 1 tablespoon salt. Rub the mixture all over the meat. Set the pork in a roasting pan, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 175°F, about 45 minutes. Allow the meat to cool completely before slicing.
• To make the sandwiches, heat a sandwich press or griddle to medium-high. Split the bread lengthwise and pull it open. Spread the mustard on 1 side of each roll and layer on the roast pork, ham, cheese, and pickles. Spread the butter all over the outside of the sandwiches and griddle until the cheese is melted and the meats are warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes. (Alternatively, wrap the sandwich in foil and toast in a 350°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes.) Slice each in half on the diagonal and serve.

CHEF JOHN'S CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Mix mayonnaise, mustard, and cayenne together in a bowl to make the sauce.
• Trim off ends of bread. Cut loaf in half and evenly split bread to make tops and bottoms of 2 sandwiches. Spread each half on both sides generously with the mayo/mustard sauce.
• Divide sandwich ingredients between the two bottom halves in this order: 2 slices Swiss cheese, 3 slices ham, hot cooked pork, pickle slices, and 2 more slices of Swiss cheese. Place tops on sandwiches.
• Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in skillet and press down with a heavy weight (such as another skillet or foil-wrapped bricks). Toast sandwiches until bread is crisp and filling is heated through, 3 or 4 minutes per side.