Cuban Sandwich (Sándwich Cubano)
Local name: Sándwich cubano
In short: Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard layered on soft bread, buttered and pressed on a griddle until crisp and melted. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 820 kcal
The Cuban sandwich is a pressed pork and ham sandwich, a lunch counter staple in Cuba and wherever Cuban communities have settled. Slices of roast pork and ham go on a soft, light-crusted loaf with Swiss cheese, dill pickles and yellow mustard. The sandwich is buttered on the outside, then pressed on a hot griddle until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts. Leftover lechón asado is the traditional filling.
Instructions
- Split each piece of bread lengthwise. Spread mustard on the cut sides of both halves.
- Layer the bottom halves with cheese, ham, roast pork and the pickle slices. Add a little more cheese on top if you like, then close the sandwiches.
- Spread the softened butter on the outside of each sandwich, top and bottom.
- Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and press them down with a heavy skillet, a foil-wrapped brick or a sandwich press.
- Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing firmly, until the bread is flat, crisp and golden and the cheese has melted.
- Slice each sandwich diagonally and serve hot.
Tips
- Cuban bread is light and slightly sweet with a thin crust. If you cannot find it, use a soft baguette or Italian loaf rather than a hard-crusted bread.
- Warm the roast pork and ham in a skillet for a minute before assembling for a hotter, gooier sandwich.
Questions and answers
What is in a Cuban sandwich?
Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles and yellow mustard on soft Cuban bread, pressed until crisp. Lettuce and tomato are not part of it.
Do I need a sandwich press?
No. A heavy skillet pressed down on the sandwich works well, as does a foil-wrapped brick.
Can I make Cuban sandwiches ahead of time?
Assemble them up to a day ahead, wrap tightly and chill. Butter and press them just before eating so the crust stays crisp.
How long does it take to make Cuban Sandwich (Sándwich Cubano)?
About 25 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cuban Sandwich (Sándwich Cubano)?
About 820 kcal per serving, with 54 g of protein, 54 g of carbohydrates and 42 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 820 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 54 g |
| Carbohydrates | 54 g |
| Fat | 42 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1750 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
