Chef John's Cuban Sandwich

4.9
(84)

There are different recipes for Cuban sandwiches. Here's how I build my Cuban, or Cubano. I like to use pulled pork. Carnitas would work too. These ingredients and amounts are open to your own personal preferences, but here's a general idea.

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close up view of Chef John's Cuban Sandwich with chips on a plate
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Servings:
2
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 2 servings

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise

  • ¼ cup mustard

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

  • 1 (8 ounce) loaf Cuban bread

  • 8 slices Swiss cheese

  • 6 thin slices smoked fully-cooked ham

  • 1 ½ cups cooked pulled pork, heated

  • 1 large dill pickle, sliced thinly lengthwise

  • 2 tablespoons butter, or as needed

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All gathered ingredients.

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  2. Mix mayonnaise, mustard, and cayenne together in a bowl to make sauce.

    Sauce for sandwich.

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  3. Trim off ends of bread. Cut loaf in half and evenly split bread to make tops and bottoms of two sandwiches.

    Chopped bread for sandwich.

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  4. Spread each half on both sides generously with mayo-mustard sauce.

    Mayo-mustard sauce on bread.

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  5. Divide sandwich ingredients between the two bottom halves in this order: 2 slices Swiss cheese, 3 slices ham, hot cooked pork, pickle slices, and 2 more slices Swiss cheese. Place tops on sandwiches.

    close up view of two Cuban Sandwiches with pickles on a wooden cutting board

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  6. Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in the skillet and press down with a heavy weight, such as another skillet or foil-wrapped bricks. Toast sandwiches until bread is crisp and filling is heated through, 3 or 4 minutes per side.

    Final step of recipe.

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  7. Serve hot and enjoy!

    close up view of Chef John's Cuban Sandwich with chips on a plate

    Chef John

Editor's Note

To make your own bread, check out Chef John's Cuban Bread recipe.

173 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

1473 Calories
85g Fat
85g Carbs
88g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Calories 1473
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 85g 109%
Saturated Fat 37g 187%
Cholesterol 287mg 96%
Sodium 4077mg 177%
Total Carbohydrate 85g 31%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 88g 176%
Vitamin C 12mg 14%
Calcium 978mg 75%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 439mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.