Authentic Cuban Sandwich Recipe: A Taste of Havana at Home!

Imagine biting into a yummy grilled sandwich filled with ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, all tucked between slices of Cuban bread. That’s what an authentic Cuban Sandwich is all about, a tasty tradition from Florida. If you’ve ever had one, you know it’s a real treat.

For me, this Cuban Sandwich recipe is the best. It’s like a whole meal packed between two slices of bread, with a mix of sweet, tangy, and eggy flavours. I got inspired by the delicious Cuban sandwiches I tasted, so I decided to make my version right in my kitchen.

To make things easier, you can bake the bread and cook and slice (or shred) the pork roast the day before you plan to make the sandwiches. Then, just put everything together and press them right before you’re ready to eat. You can even freeze the meat in sandwich-sized portions for later. And here’s a tip: toast the inside of the bread so it doesn’t get soggy from the pickles.

I like to give my Cuban sandwich a little extra flavour by adding some Sriracha to the Dijon mustard. It gives it a nice kick. And make sure to spread the mustard evenly on each piece of bread so every bite is delicious.

Authentic Cuban Sandwich Recipe

Making Cuban Sandwiches is super simple! All you need are a few basic ingredients and some Cuban bread, which is light and crusty and the best choice for this sandwich. Just slice your bread, layer on your ingredients, toast it, and you're done! You can whip these up for a quick lunch with whatever you have on hand. Or, if you're having a party, you can make one big sandwich out of a whole loaf of bread, toast it, and slice it up for everyone to enjoy. I hope you have fun making your own authentic Cuban sandwiches! They're easy, yummy, and perfect for any occasion.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine cuban

Servings 4

Calories 440 kcal

Equipment

• Panini press or grill for toasting the sandwich
• Knife
• Cutting Board
• Spatula
• Aluminum foil (optional for wrapping sandwiches)

Ingredients

  

• 4 pieces Cuban bread
• 3 tbsp Butter
• 1 pound Cuban roast pork
• 8 slices Ham you can use sweet, smoked, or honey ham
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• Dill pickle slices
• Mustard if you like, you can use Dijon, spicy brown, or yellow
• Sriracha if you want to add some spice

Cuban Roast Pork (Mojo – Marinated Pork):

• 4- pound Pork shoulder roast also called pork butt
• 1 Garlic clove
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black peppercorns
• 1 cup Sour orange juice or you can use 2/3 cup of regular orange juice mixed with the juice of 1 lime and 1 lemon
• 1 cup minced Onion
• 2 tsp dried Oregano
• 1/2 cup Olive oil Spanish if you have it, but any kind works

Instructions

 

Cuban Roast Pork:

• Make a paste by squishing garlic, salt, and peppercorns together. Mix in the orange juice, onion, and oregano. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a pot until it’s warm. Take it off the heat and carefully mix in the garlic-orange juice mix. Let it cool before using it to marinate the pork.
• Poke holes all over the pork with a fork or knife. Put it in a pan and pour the garlic mixture over it (save some for later). Cover and put it in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take the lid off the pork and roast it for 20 minutes. Then, turn the heat down to 225°F and roast it for about 2 hours and 20 minutes until it’s tender. Baste it now and then. Let it sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

Sandwich Time:

• Spread butter and mustard on the inside of the bread. Put pickles, pork, ham, and cheese on the bread. Don’t be shy with the fillings!
• Butter a hot pan or griddle. Put the sandwich on it and press it down with a heavy skillet or something flat. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side until it’s golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• Cut the sandwich diagonally and serve it up hot!

Notes

• Make 4 sandwiches with just 1 pound of meat; save extra in the freezer.
• Cooking time changes based on how big your pork is.
• Let your meat and cheese warm up a bit before making sandwiches, so they don’t over-toast the bread.
• Toast the inside of the bread to keep it from getting soggy from the pickles.
• If you like, mix Sriracha with Dijon mustard for a tastier sandwich.

Nutrition Facts:

Is a Cuban Sandwich Served Hot or Cold?

Cuban sandwiches are best served hot after they’re pressed (like paninis). You can also serve them at room temperature, but if you press them and they cool down, the bread might get hard. Don’t press the bread if you want to serve them cold.

What is the Best Bread For a Cuban Sandwich?

You can get Cuban bread from a Cuban bakery. We like using our Pan Cubano Bread for our Cubanos. You can also try our slightly sweet eggy Media Noche Bread Recipe, or use a soft baguette, French, or Italian bread, as long as it’s not too crusty.

What is the Best Ham For a Cuban Sandwich?

You can use sweet cured or smoked ham, Serrano, or bolo ham. I used honey ham, which goes well with the tangy mustard, pickles, and sweet Cuban bread.

What to Serve with Cuban Sandwiches?

You can serve them with rice and beans, Cuban Black Beans, fried plantains, or french fries. Just avoid serving them with vegetables or lettuce salad! Oh, and don’t forget a slice of delicious Cuban Rum Cake for dessert.