Ciabatta Cubano Sandwich Recipe

Instead of a traditional Cuban Sandwich, I swapped out the bread and created this flavorful, cheesy Ciabatta Cubano Sandwich.

This Cubano Sandwich has the same delicious filling as the classic version, but with an easier bread to locate far, far from the Caribbean.

Why You Must Make

• Ever since we ate at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, Florida, years ago, I was dying to make a Cubano sandwich at home. But not having access to the proper bread held me back.
• But I decided to make do with what I could find, and wing it with a loaf of ciabatta!
• It may not have been authentic, but it was exceptionally tasty!!! So give it a try!!

Ingredient Notes:

Purists will certainly gasp, but short of baking my own loaf, I was resigned to not finding “exotic” ingredients in my Midwest hometown. So a ciabatta Cubano sandwich recipe was born.

• Kitchen Staples – Olive Oil, Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Cloves, Ground Cumin
• Pork Shoulder Roast – About 3 pounds. Don’t be concerned about the fat, much of it melts away as it cooks, plus it keeps the meat moist and flavorful.
• Fresh Oregano
• Fresh Orange Juice
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Ciabatta Bread – Slice in half horizontally. May also use focaccia or a baguette.
• Mayonnaise – I use Hellmann’s or Duke’s brands
• Dijon Mustard – I use Grey Poupon
• Sliced Deli Ham – about ¾ pound
• Sliced Garlic Pickles
• Sliced Swiss Cheese – ¼-½ pound

How to Make

• An authentic Cuban sandwich is made on a specialized bread with a crisp exterior and soft interior, which is then coated with mustard, layered with cheese, pickles, ham, roast pork, then another layer of cheese. This sandwich is then pressed and grilled to perfection!
• After marinating a pork shoulder with orange and lime juices, garlic, cumin, and oregano, it was roasted until it was fork tender. After it cooled, I pulled out my panini press and gathered the Cubano sandwich ingredients.
• Piping hot, with cheese oozing out the sides, I couldn’t wait to take a bite. I was not disappointed. All the delicious flavors danced together beautifully. I was still smitten. So was the hubby, though I saw him pull out the garlic dill pickle slices. Those sweet midgets he’s so fond of just wouldn’t work in these sandwiches….or maybe I should try them next time???

Recipe Tips

• Roast your pork the day before to make simple work of assembling the sandwiches when you’re ready to eat them.
• You won’t need all the roast pork unless you’re making a lot of Cuban sandwiches. Freeze the excess and save for another meal.
• If you want to make a Tampa-style Cubano, add a layer of salami to your sandwich.
• If you don’t want to invest in a panini press, just fry your sandwiches in a skillet and place a second, heavy skillet (cast iron works well) on top of the Cubano for pressure. You can even put a brick in the top skillet for more weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The Recipe:

Ciabatta Cubano Sandwich Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 6 hours

Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes

Yield 6

I would love to make a traditional Cuban sandwich, but swapped out the bread and created this Ciabatta Cubano Sandwich Recipe. Same flavorful filling, but with an easier bread to locate far, far from the Caribbean.

Ingredients

Cuban Roast Pork:

• 3 pound pork shoulder roast
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano
• ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For sandwich:

• 1 loaf ciabatta bread
• 2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2-3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• ¾ pound sliced deli ham
• Sliced garlic pickles
• ¼-½ pound sliced Swiss cheese (I used ¼ pound)

Instructions

1. Combine the garlic, cumin, pepper, oregano, orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, and salt in a bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Place the pork and marinade in a large Ziploc bag and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight, flipping a few times.
To roast, preheat oven to 275°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place pork plus some of the marinade on the pan and fold up the top layer of foil, crimping the edges together while leaving an air pocket inside the foil. 
Place in oven and roast for 3 hours.
At the 3-hour mark, open the foil, and set the oven to 325°.
Roast for 2-3 more hours, basting on occasion until the meat is fall-apart tender. Remove pork from the oven and let the pork rest until it's cool enough to shred into bite-sized pieces, discarding excess fat.
To make sandwiches, cut the ciabatta in half lengthwise.
Mix together equal amounts of the mayonnaise and Dijon and spread on one half of the loaf.
Top with a layer of cheese, then sliced ham, shredded pork, pickles, and then more cheese. Top with the other half of the bread.
Cut into slices and grill on your panini maker or cook in a skillet weighing down the top of the sandwich with a cast iron pan or another weight.
Sandwiches are ready when the cheese is melted and the meat is warm.

Notes

Roast pork recipe adapted from Serious Eats.

Save any excess pork for quesadillas, tacos, etc.

Recommended Products

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• OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Better Balloon Whisk
• 
  Cuisinart Griddler or Panini Press
• 
  USA Pan Bakeware Half Sheet Pan

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1 sandwich
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 897Total Fat: 52gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 1237mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 5gSugar: 5gProtein: 64g

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