How to Make a Cuban Sandwich

After watching a Throwdown! with Bobby Flay episode recently in which he lost the battle making a Cuban sandwich, I decided to try making this sandwich myself. If you have ever had a deli sandwich in New York City (grilled pastrami and swiss is my favorite), this sandwich comes close to making you feel like you just ate at a real deli. My whole family liked the sandwich and I can see this being a requested meal when my boys become teenagers (which I am not looking forward to anytime soon). Football season is approaching and this sandwich will definitely taste like a tailgate food winner too.

First, I buttered a griddle and toasted the insides of my halved hoagie rolls.

Then, I layered cheese and ham on one half and mustard and pickles on the other half.

I piled slow roasted pork tenderloin on top of the pickles.

I wrapped the sandwiches in foil and placed hot foil covered bricks on top.

Finally, I unwrapped the sandwiches and sliced diagonally.

Cuban Sandwich 

(Printable Recipe)

4 - 12" hoagie rolls

3 tablespoons butter

1 pound thinly shaved black forest ham

1 package provolone cheese slices

1 package swiss cheese slices

Mustard

1 jar pickles, sliced lengthwise (sandwich slims)

1 pork tenderloin, cooked and seasoned 

My pork tenderloin was cooked in the crock pot and seasoned with 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste.   

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and wrap 2 bricks with foil unless you have a panini maker.  If using bricks, place bricks in oven. Heat up a griddle to 350 degrees.  Melt 1tablespoon butter at a time. Place 3 hoagie halves (insides face down on butter) on griddle and cook until golden brown and bread is crisp. 

Layer your choice of cheese (provolone, swiss or both) and ham on one side of the roll and mustard and pickles on the other.  Pile pork tenderloin on top of the pickles. Wrap sandwich with foil.  Place sandwiches in oven and place bricks on top of sandwiches.  Heat sandwiches in oven 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice sandwiches diagonally and serve. Serves 4-8.