Best 5 Nifs Cuban Sandwich Recipes

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.

CHEF JOHN'S CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Mix mayonnaise, mustard, and cayenne together in a bowl to make the sauce.
• Trim off ends of bread. Cut loaf in half and evenly split bread to make tops and bottoms of 2 sandwiches. Spread each half on both sides generously with the mayo/mustard sauce.
• 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 of Swiss cheese. Place tops on sandwiches.
• Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in 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.

NIF'S CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut French loaf lengthwise.
• Spread butter on top and bottom. Generously add mustard, don't be shy!
• Layer ham, cheese, pickles and cucumber. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Put top on the sandwich and cut into 3 or 4 equal pieces.
• Heat pan to medium-high temperature.
• Baste top of one section with olive oil and place oiled side down in pan. Baste other side with olive oil.
• OR Heat sandwich press or plancha to medium-high. Only use the flat side, no grooves on this sandwich! Close until toasted and cheese is melted!
• For pan - Place heavy item on top of sandwich - I used 2 nested pots. Toast for 5 minutes.
• Turn sandwich over and toast for another 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat down and put a lid on the pan to finish the melting. I can see how a sandwich press might do a better job because it's not easy to heat through if you have too many layers.
• Cut each sandwich diagonally and enjoy!

ORIGINAL CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut Cuban bread to desired size, common size is 7 inches. Next, slice open the bread down the middle. On the topside of the bread spread 1-ounce of mustard, evenly across. Then place 4 pickles on top of the mustard. You then place 1 slice of Swiss cheese on top of the pickles. Slice ham to desired thickness, recommended size is 1 1/2 ounces per slice, the thinner the better. Now fold each slice of ham in half and place evenly on bottom of bread. On top of the ham, place slices of roast pork, 1 1/2 ounces per slice. You then join both halves of the sandwich. You are now ready to grill your Cuban sandwich.
• Use a sandwich grill if you have one, a waffle iron if not. Spread butter on top of the bread evenly. Close the grill, smashing the sandwich. Leave sandwich in the grill until top of bread turns to a golden brown, and top is crisp. Approximate time is 4 to 6 minutes. After the sandwich is crispy and the cheese has melted, remove the sandwich carefully and slice it diagonally, from corner to corner. DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE OVEN!

5 NINTH'S CUBANO

Steps:

• At least 2 days before serving time, prepare jalapeños, if desired: place peppers in a heatproof bowl. In a saucepan, warm vinegar, onion and salt over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring to dissolve salt. Pour liquid over jalapeños and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 days and up to 2 weeks.
• To make aioli in a food processor combine egg yolks, garlic and mustard. With motor running, add oils in a slow, steady stream. Blend in the lemon juice and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• When you are ready to make sandwiches, seed 2 jalapeños and cut lengthwise into thin strips (alternatively, you can use purchased pickled jalapeños). Warm roasted pork in a microwave or small skillet. Spread the inside of the baguettes with aioli. Divide remaining ingredients (except oil) among 4 sandwiches, layering cheese, jalapeños, prosciutto and pork. Top with remaining baguette half.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Place a second skillet, preferably a cast-iron one, over high heat at the same time (it should be slightly smaller than the first skillet). When pans are very hot, add oil to the larger skillet. Place each sandwich in oil (cut sandwiches in half if they do not fit), and press second skillet on top, weighing it down with a heavy item to flatten. Cook until bread is golden and cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes a side.