Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H. This is one of our favorite recipes, for both me and Patty. We fell in love with them during our stays in Florida. It’s really hard to beat a sandwich that’s layered up with thick slices of ham, loads of slow roasted pork (yes, two types of pork!), held together with melty Swiss cheese and slathered in butter, yellow mustard and topped with crunchy dill pickles. It’s a classic sandwich, really, incredibly popular in Florida but also all over the United States. This one needs to go into your recipe box, my friends. It’s perfect for leftover pork shoulder or pulled pork. It certainly isn’t your plain old ham and cheese sandwich! Let’s discuss! It’s origins trace back to Florida where it was enjoyed by Cuban workers in Tampa and Key West. It eventually spread in popularity, no doubt due to its wonderful flavor, spawning a friendly rivalry between Tampa and Miami, with Tampa including salami and Miami omitting it. Let’s talk about how to make a Cuban Sandwich (aka Cubano), shall we? Layer It Up! Layer the sandwich with roast pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese and pickles. Top the Cubano with the top bread slice. Butter, Grill and Press. Slather the remaining butter over both sides of the sandwich. Heat a grill, grill pan or heavy skillet to medium heat. Grill the Cuban sandwich for 5-6 minutes per side, pressing it down very firmly with a cast iron skillet on top or spatula to “press” it tightly, until golden brown and bread is nice and crispy. You can also use a sandwich or panini press for this. NOTE: Aluminum Foil Option. Some people like to wrap their Cuban sandwiches in aluminum foil first before grilling and pressing, which can help with cleanup. I’ve done this several times and it works great, though it can get a bit messy if cheese and other ingredients leak out. Serve and Enjoy! Remove, slice and serve. Boom! Done! Your Cuban Sandwiches are ready to enjoy! What do you think? Pretty amazing, aren’t they? A seemingly simple recipe with simple ingredients that is HUGE on flavor. That’s perfect in my book. I love this recipe. That’s it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this homemade Cuban Sandwich recipe. Let me know if you make it. I’d love to hear how it turned out for you. I think you’ll love this one. So good!
The Spicy Food Lovers’ Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 10/15/21 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 10/28/20.
