World Recipe: Cuban Sandwich

07 Sep World Recipe: Cuban Sandwich

The Cuban sandwich, despite its name, wasn’t born in Cuba but in Florida, USA, in the early 20th century. It was created by Cuban migrants who arrived in cities like Tampa and Miami looking for a better life. There, they mixed flavours from their homeland with local ingredients, giving birth to this iconic snack. Today, the Cuban sandwich is a star on street food menus and food trucks worldwide, loved for its bold taste and simple preparation.

Ingredients

• Half a loaf of bread (baguette or Cuban bread)
• 2 or 3 large pickled cucumbers
• 2 or 3 tablespoons of mustard
• Ham to taste
• 2 large pork shoulder steaks
• 1 garlic clove
• Fresh parsley
• Slices of Swiss cheese
• Butter to taste

Preparation

• Cut the bread in half, spread butter, and toast both sides in a pan or griddle. Set aside.
• Marinate the pork steaks with chopped garlic and fresh parsley for 1 hour in the fridge to absorb the flavour well.
• Cook the steaks on the griddle until nicely browned.
• To assemble the sandwich, spread mustard on the bread, then layer the pork steaks, ham slices, Swiss cheese, and sliced pickles.
• Place it back on the griddle and press down slightly so the cheese melts and the bread gets nicely toasted.

And that’s it! A sandwich full of history, Latin flavour, and pure street heart.