CUBAN STYLE PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICHES AND FRIED PLANTAINS

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Cuban Style Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches and Fried Plantains image

Put The Buena Vista Social Club on the stereo and invite over a few friends to make a weeknight trip to Cuba! Put on your best cabana shirts and keep a limbo pole on hand!

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 40m

Yield Up to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 25

1 2/3 to 2 pounds pork tenderloin, 2 pieces, the average weight of 1 package, trimmed
Extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil, for drizzling
1 small onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 limes, zested
1 large orange, zested
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
8 crusty rolls, such as Portuguese rolls, torpedo loaves or muffuletta style round rolls
4 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup corn oil, 4 turns of the pan
4 black (ripe) plantains
1 teaspoon fine salt
6 dill pickles, chopped
1/2 cup sweet red pepper relish
2 scallions, chopped
1 pound shaved ham, from the deli counter
1 pound shaved Swiss cheese, from the deli counter
4 tablespoons butter, for toasting sandwiches
Frozen Mojito Slushes, recipe follows
1 pint lime sorbet or 1 can lime ade from frozen juice sectio
8 shots light rum
1/2 cup mint leaves
1 tray ice cubes

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Coat tenderloins with oil. Combine onion, garlic, citrus zest, salt, pepper and dried oregano in a pile on your cutting board. Pack this coating equally and evenly onto the tenderloins. Heat a large skillet. Add a drizzle of oil and sear tenderloin on all sides. Then place in hot oven to roast 20 to 25 minutes. Wash hands.
  • Brush rolls with a little warm water and sprinkle the tops of the rolls with 1/2 teaspoon sugar each. Pile rolls on a baking sheet and place in oven with meat for 5 minutes to crust rolls and set sugar. Authentic Cuban rolls used for this sandwich are sweet. This sugar wash process gives a similar effect to store bought rolls. When rolls come out of oven, split and pile on serving plate.
  • Preheat a stovetop griddle over medium high heat.
  • Heat 1/4 cup corn oil in a heavy skillet over medium high heat. Peel plantains and cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then slice each 1/2 into thirds on an angle. Arrange plantains in pan in a single layer and cook until crisp, continuously flipping for even browning. Remove from skillet to paper towel lined plate and season with fine salt.
  • To assemble sandwiches: Thinly slice meat on an angle. Place ham and Swiss cheese on a serving plate, separating and fluffing up the shaved meat and cheese. Assemble sandwiches with desired fillings and place on a hot, buttered griddle. Use a heavy pan to press the sandwiches together. Toast until golden brown, then flip and toast the other side.
  • Combine chopped pickles, sweet red pepper relish and scallions in a small bowl.
  • Spread the relish on the tops of the rolls and pork slices, ham, and swiss cheese on the bottoms. Press the sandwiches together. Put about 1 tablespoon of butter on the hot griddle and spread to coat. Put 2 sandwiches at a time on the griddle, and top with a heavy cast-iron skillet. Toast sandwiches on the griddle, turning once, until golden, hot, and cheese is melted, 2 or 3 minutes per side.
  • Serve with a few slices of plantains per person as a side dish. Frozen Mojitos Slushes make a great drink or dessert.
  • In a blender, combine 1/2 pint sorbet or 1/2 can of lime aid with 4 shots of rum, 1/4 cup mint leaves and 1/2 tray of ice. Pulse, then blend on high until lime-mint slush is smooth. Pour drinks into 2 large cocktail glasses using a long handled spoon and repeat with remaining ingredients.

Orland Jessica
[email protected]

I'm not a huge fan of Cuban food, but I really enjoyed these sandwiches. The pork was tender and juicy, and the plantains added a nice sweetness. I will definitely be making these again.


Bobi Gil
[email protected]

These pork sandwiches are a delicious and easy meal to make. I love the combination of flavors and textures. The pork is tender and juicy, the plantains are crispy and sweet, and the mojo sauce is the perfect finishing touch. I highly recommend this


Rana Saifullah
[email protected]

I followed the recipe exactly, but my sandwiches didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. The pork was a little dry, and the plantains were not crispy enough. I'm not sure what I did wrong.


Andrew Don
[email protected]

These sandwiches were a bit too spicy for my taste, but they were still very good. The pork was tender and juicy, and the plantains were crispy and delicious. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who likes spicy food.


Md farhan Ahmod
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of Cuban food, but I really enjoyed these sandwiches. The pork was tender and juicy, and the plantains added a nice sweetness. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who is looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy Cub


David T
[email protected]

These sandwiches were amazing! The pork was so tender and flavorful, and the plantains were crispy and delicious. I will definitely be making these again.


Shameer Jan
[email protected]

I made these sandwiches for my family, and they all loved them! The pork was tender and juicy, and the plantains were crispy and delicious. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who is looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy pork.


Yiga Prosper
[email protected]

I followed the recipe exactly, but my sandwiches didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. The pork was a little dry, and the plantains were not crispy enough. I'm not sure what I did wrong.


James Dodson
[email protected]

These sandwiches were a bit too spicy for my taste, but they were still very good. The pork was tender and juicy, and the plantains were crispy and delicious. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who likes spicy food.


Semir Abdu
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of Cuban food, but I really enjoyed these sandwiches. The pork was tender and juicy, and the plantains added a nice sweetness. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who is looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy Cub


Goda Raugale
[email protected]

I love Cuban food, and these sandwiches were no exception. The pork was cooked perfectly, and the sandwiches were so flavorful. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who loves Cuban food.


THE MS
[email protected]

These sandwiches were amazing! The pork was so tender and flavorful, and the plantains were crispy and delicious. I will definitely be making these again.


Noman Khan Noman
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of pork, but I really enjoyed these sandwiches. The pork was tender and juicy, and the plantains added a nice sweetness. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who is looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy pork.


Gloria Yeboah
[email protected]

This was my first time making Cuban-style pork tenderloin sandwiches, and they turned out great! The pork was cooked perfectly, and the sandwiches were so flavorful. I will definitely be making these again.


Kelvin Adigwe
[email protected]

I love Cuban sandwiches, and this recipe did not disappoint! The pork was flavorful and moist, and the plantains were crispy and delicious. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who loves Cuban food.


Jan Feb
[email protected]

These Cuban-style pork tenderloin sandwiches were a hit at my last party! The pork was so tender and juicy, and the fried plantains added a nice sweet and savory touch. I'll definitely be making these again.