Smoked Cuban Sandwich Food

THE ULTIMATE CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Begin by braising the pork shoulder. Tie the shoulder in 4 places with kitchen twine so it will hold its shape while being cooked or ask your butcher to do this for you. Season the pork with salt, pepper, cumin and oregano. Set the base of a pressure cooker over low-medium heat and add a 2 count of olive oil.
• Add garlic and chili flakes and as the oil heats up it will become fragrant and infuse the oil. Add the pork. Add onions around the pork and brown slightly before adding orange juice, lime juice, stock and bay leaves.
• Secure the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for 20 to 25 minutes depending on the size of your pressure cooker. The pork should be tender when done. When done allow to cool in juices before removing twine and slicing.
• To prepare Cuban sandwiches, split bread in half then layer the sandwich with mustard, cheese, pickles, ham, pork then cheese again (the cheese glues everything together). Season with salt and pepper in between the ham and pork layers. (Optional: drizzle a little of the pork braising liquid over the meat as well).
• To cook, heat a large cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat and lightly coat with olive oil. Place the sandwiches on the skillet and top with another heavy skillet and a couple of heavy weights (bricks, or cans of tomatoes work well). Press down firmly and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side until the sandwich has compressed to about a third of its original size and the bread is super-crispy. Serve with beans, rice and plantain chips.

SMOKED CUBAN SANDWICH RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat a cast iron skillet to medium/medium high heat.
• Layer Sandwich: Apply the Dijon mustard to both sides of the roll. On one side of the roll layer with 1 slice of Swiss cheese (you may need to cut cheese in half for the length of the sandwich), and then add ¼ lb pulled pork, then ham and sliced dill pickles, and then top with another slice of Swiss cheese. Finish by adding a smidge of salt and pepper.
• Add Butter: Cover with the top of the roll, and then slather butter on the top and bottom of the roll. Just enough to coat the top and bottom of the roll. This is important to get the rolls crusty but not burned.
• Cook Sandwiches: Place sandwich onto the skillet and press down with a heavy object like a cast iron pan. Cook 4-5 minutes, then flip and repeat on the other side for 4-5 additional minutes, until the crust forms and the cheese is melted.
• Serve warm.

CUBAN PANINI

Steps:

• In a small skillet, cook and stir garlic in oil over medium-high heat until tender. Cool., Stir garlic into mayonnaise; spread over bread slices. Layer 4 slices of bread with turkey, ham, cheese, pickles and spinach; close sandwiches., Cook on a panini maker or indoor grill until browned and cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes.

CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Heat a flattop or pan on medium heat.
• Slice alpine roll in half and butter each side. Set roll on flattop and cook until warm and toasted, approximately 5 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange pork loin and ham on the flattop in piles shaped like the roll and grill until warm, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Flip and place 2 pieces cheese on each pile of meat. Grill until the cheese has melted. Meanwhile, remove toasted roll and spread mayonnaise on both halves, then add mustard to half. Place ham and cheese on one half of the roll, then place the pork loin on the other half. Add pickles (don't be shy-add a lot! They make the sandwich!) to the bottom half and top with the other side of the roll. Cut sandwich in half and enjoy!

SLOW COOKED CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Mix the oil, salt, cumin, oregano, black pepper, red pepper, garlic, lime juice and orange juice in a small bowl. Make slits in the pork with a paring knife and rub liberally all over with the oil mixture. Place the pork in a slow cooker and top with the remaining juices from the bowl. Cover and cook on low until tender, flipping once halfway through, about 6 hours.
• Remove from the slow cooker and let cool slightly. Shred the pork into thick chunks with 2 forks. Set the pork aside and keep warm in the cooking liquid.
• Slice the roll open and smear both sides with mustard. Layer on the Swiss, ham, pulled pork and pickles. Place the onions over half the sub and cut into portions. Or, start on opposing ends and race to the middle.