Grilled Cubano Food

GRILLED CUBANO

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium. Brush pork with oil; season with salt and pepper. Brush grates with oil. Grill pork, flipping once, until cooked through and lightly charred, about 3 minutes; transfer to a plate.
• Scoop out soft insides of bread, leaving a 1/8-inch border. Spread mayonnaise and Dijon on opposite halves, then sandwich cheese, pork, ham, and pickles with bread.
• Brush oil over both sides of bread. Grill, weighting with a large cast-iron skillet and flipping once, until cheese is melted and bread is lightly marked, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; slice into 8 pieces. Serve immediately, with chips.

CUBAN-STYLE BURGERS ON THE GRILL

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to high. Form the meat into 4 (1/4-inch thick) burgers. Season the meat with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on both sides for medium doneness. When the burgers are done, remove from the heat and reduce heat to medium-low.
• Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise and roasted garlic in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread both sides of each bun with mayonnaise and mustard. Place a slice of cheese on the bottom portion of each bun, place the burger on top of the cheese, then top the cheese with a slice of ham and another slice of cheese, and finally, the pickle slices. Place the tops of the bun over the pickles, wrap the burgers in aluminum foil, and place them on the grill. Using a heavy pan or a brick wrapped in foil, press down on the burgers for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lower the lid on the grill and continue grilling for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the bun has become pressed and firm.

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.

GRILLED CUBAN SANDWICH (SANDWICH CUBANO)

Steps:

• Assemble the sandwich
• Spread 2 tablespoons of the butter on one half of the bread loaf and a thin layer of mustard on the other. Place 1 to 2 layers of ham, pork, cheese, and, finally, pickles on the buttered bread and top with the mustard-spread bread.
• Wrap the sandwich in foil
• Smear the remaining butter all over the outside of the sandwich and wrap it completely in aluminum foil.
• Press and grill the sandwich
• Heat your grill to high (550°F) and close the lid. Wait at least 15 minutes before lowering the heat to medium-high (450°F) and continuing.
• Before grilling the sandwich, press down on it with your hands to flatten it. Place the wrapped, flattened sandwich on the grill and top with a brick, grill press, or any other heavy, heat-resistant object. Close the lid and grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side.
• Remove the wrapped sandwich from the grill and take off the foil. Return the sandwich to the grill and grill for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until both pieces of bread are crispy and golden brown.
• Slice and serve
• Remove the sandwich from the grill and cut at an angle into small sandwich wedges (triangles). Place on a large platter and serve while still hot.

SUPER GRILLED "CUBAN" MIDNIGHT SANDWICH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and Italian dressing.
• Spread mixture on hoagie rolls.
• Spread each roll with mustard.
• On each roll, arrange layers of turkey, ham, and cheese.
• Top each with dill pickle slices. Close sandwiches, and brush tops and bottoms with olive oil.
• Heat a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Place sandwiches in skillet. Cook sandwiches for 2 minutes, pressing down with a plate covered with aluminum foil. Flip, and cook 2 more minutes, more or less!

GRILLED CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Assemble the sandwich.
• Spread 2 tablespoons of the butter on one half of the bread loaf and a thin layer of mustard on the other. Place 1 to 2 layers of ham, pork, cheese, and, finally, pickles on the buttered bread and top with the mustard-spread bread.
• Wrap the sandwich in foil.
• Smear the remaining butter all over the outside of the sandwich and wrap it completely in aluminum foil.
• Press and grill the sandwich.
• Heat your grill to high (550°F) and close the lid. Wait at least 15 minutes before lowering the heat to medium-high (450°F) and continuing.
• Before grilling the sandwich, press down on it with your hands to flatten it. Place the wrapped, flattened sandwich on the grill and top with a brick, grill press, or any other heavy, heat-resistant object. Close the lid and grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side.
• Remove the wrapped sandwich from the grill and take off the foil. Return the sandwich to the grill and grill for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until both pieces of bread are crispy and golden brown.
• Slice and serve.
• Remove the sandwich from the grill and cut at an angle into small sandwich wedges (triangles). Place on a large platter and serve while still hot.
• NOTES:.
• The loaf sandwich can be prepared and wrapped in foil a few hours in advance. Press and grill right before serving.
• Instead of plan mustard I like to mix mustard, mayonnaise and some cayenne pepper together to give it a little more flavor.

GRILLED CUBANO: TURKEY, PORK AND SWISS WITH MUSTARD AND PICKLES

Steps:

• 1. Cut roll.
• 2. Spread mustard on top of roll.
• 3. Place two slices of cheese onto each side of roll.
• 4. Stack cheese, pork, turkey, and pickle onto bottom of roll.
• 5. Close sandwich.
• 6. Melt a tablespoon of butter in pan.
• 7. Press down on sandwich and grill over moderate heat for approximately 3-4 minutes on both sides, pressing down firmly from time to time.