How long it takes: 15 minutes (plus time to make the pork) Equipment you’ll need: panini grill pan or skillet Servings: 2 sandwiches Maybe the first introduction you’ve had to this lip-smacking, messy fingers sandwich is the popular Cuban sandwich at Panera’s. It’s so good but I’ve heard that it’s been discontinued. What?!! Why do they do that? But have no fear, you can make your own deli sandwich right at home.
The Best Cuban Sandwich
It’s all about the pork and I won’t lie to you. This isn’t a super fast sandwich option. The base of a Cuban panini is slow cooked Cuban style pork. Yep, it has to marinate all night. Yep, it has to cook all day. But you know what? You can make the pork way ahead. You could also use our Instant Pot carnitas recipe (minus the crisping portion), for shorter marinating and cook times. It keeps well in the fridge or in the freezer. Once you make a batch of Cuban (Mojo) pork, you literally can have it on hand for whenever you crave a Cuban panini. Marinated overnight in a citrus garlic marinade, then slow cooked to tender perfection, Cuban pork is absolutely delicious. It’s wonderful in a bowl with rice and beans, wrapped in a tortilla, or on a bun. But the real reason to make Cuban pork? Yes, the answer is: Cuban paninis! Get your panini maker heating up. If you don’t have one, a George Foreman grill works fine or a heavy skillet.
Ingredient Notes
Shredded Cuban (Mojo) Pork and Sliced Deli Ham: Sometimes salami is also included in a Cuban sandwich, so feel free to add that if you’d like! Swiss Cheese: As much or as little as you’d like, either sliced or shredded. Dill Pickle Slices: Sandwich stackers work really well, or round slices. Mustard: Pick any kind you like! We like a good Dijon, but you could use traditional yellow mustard, or a spicy mustard. Mayonnaise: We love this addition, but you can definitely leave it out if you don’t like mayo or want a more classic version of this sandwich. Sandwich Bread: Pick your fave! Choose Cuban bread if you want an authentic sandwich. Butter for Grilling: For a lower calorie option, you can spray the outside of your bread with oil or nonstick cooking spray. We always opt for butter, though!
How to assemble A Cuban Sandwich
Spread mustard on a hearty variety of sandwich bread. This isn’t the time for wimpy spongey bread. Use a nice firm bread, like French, Italian, or Cuban, with good sized slices. Here’s how to layer the sandwich: Bread, a slice of cheese, a slice of ham, pork, pickles, a slice of ham, and then a final slice of cheese before topping with another slice of bread. Whew! You can already tell that this is going to be quite the Dagwood sandwich. Stick to this order because, trust me, it works best. The cheese is kind of like the glue, the ham slices give structure, and the gooey drippy stuff is right in the middle where it will behave itself. Well, not really, you’ll need at least a couple of napkins with this sandwich. But isn’t that the hallmark of a truly delicious sandwich? Butter the outsides of the sandwich and grill until the bread is golden brown and toasty good, and the cheese is melting out the sides, and your mouth is watering, and … what? Don’t bother with talking, just enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Wondering what goes with a Cuban sandwich? Really, anything you’d like! We love a pile of potato chips or sweet potato chips with any good sandwich but other options are French fries, fresh vegetables, a salad, or fruit. Potato salad or creamy coleslaw is delicious, too! Dill potato salad made with lots of fresh dill, dill pickles, and red skin potatoes goes really well with a Cuban sandwich.
Recipe Variations
Like any sandwich, you can pretty much build a Cuban panini the way you want. It may not be an “authentic” version, but it’s your version and that’s just as good. Here are some suggestions:
Experiment with different kinds of mustard or try a different spread. There are so many varieties of mustard and each one has unique characteristics. Use your favorite one, or just skip the mustard if you want and try something different. Thousand Island is good or a flavored cream cheese spread. Pickles. Again, a lot of different kinds out there, all of which would be worth a try. Choose your favorite or what you happen to have in the fridge. Try pickled red onions for a different twist. Skip the pork and try deli sliced turkey instead. Use a different kind of cheese. What kind of cheese do you like on a sandwich? Swiss works great with the pork and ham but other varieties of cheese are great, too.
Make-Ahead Ideas
While this sandwich really can’t be made ahead, the pork certainly can. Freeze individual portions of pork and thaw it in the microwave any time you crave a Cuban panini. While I haven’t tried it yet (and I don’t know why not!) you could easily translate this recipe into a pan of sliders, like these ham and cheese sliders or turkey sliders. Just layer all the ingredients in Hawaiian slider rolls and bake. Perfect for a crowd!
Interested in a weekly meal plan that includes this recipe? Take a look at my Meal Plan #22 or Meal Plan #88. You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. Let me do the planning for you this week! We add a new meal plan weekly.
