Chef John's Cuban Sandwich

Name: Chef John's Cuban Sandwich
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 21 min
Yield: 2 large sandwiches
Ingredients: 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

Rating: 4.84 stars

70 Ratings
55 Reviews
17 Photos

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

By Chef John

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Recipe Summary

prep:

15 mins

cook:

6 mins

total:

21 mins

Servings:

Yield:

2 large sandwiches

Nutrition Info

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 2 servings

The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

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

Step 1

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

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Step 2

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.
Step 3

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.
Step 4

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.

Chef's Note:

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

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

1473 calories; protein 88.2g; carbohydrates 85.4g; fat 85.2g; cholesterol 287.1mg; sodium 4076.6mg. Full Nutrition

Reviews (55)

Most helpful positive review

CUDZUBob

04/22/2017

Delicious!! I made my own Cuban bread from your recipe: outstanding bread taste! I am going to do 3 things differently the next time I make this. First: Pat dry the pickle slices. Second: coat both sides of the sandwich with the mayo/mustard sauce completely, but keep it a thin layer. Third: Rinse the barbecue sauce off the precooked pulled pork I used and pat it dry. I had a problem with the sandwich toppings oozing out of the sides when I compressed it. I'm thinking the drier it is on the inside going into the pan, the less will ooze out during cooking. (It was still yummy!) Thanks, Chef!! Read More

Helpful

(14)

Most helpful critical review

Hilda M Alvarez

08/13/2019

Sounds good but - - - - - - No Mayo please - never. Just butter on one side and mustard on the other. Pork is really Lechon Asado with classic Mojo seasoning. ; ) Read More

70 Ratings

5 star values: 61
4 star values: 7
3 star values: 2
2 star values: 0
1 star values: 0

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

CUDZUBob

04/21/2017

Helpful

(14)

Susie Bross Gerchicoff

06/22/2017

One of the few recipes I've tried and I wouldn't change a thing. I pulled out my old George Foreman grill, and while it took a little longer than the recipe, it was delicious!!!! The cayenne really added a great kick. I should also add I used pork tenderloin that I grilled last night instead of carnitas. Read More

Helpful

(5)

Brenda Rahmlow

09/03/2017

Fantastic. I made it with less mustard but I think it was not enough so the recipe must be right on. I loved it and it tasted like it came from a high -end sandwich shop. Read More

Helpful

(3)

Jess Pefferman

07/17/2017

Love it! I looking to use left over pork roast- this recipe worked great! Read More

Helpful

(2)

BigSteve14

06/22/2017

I love this sandwich. I used the pork Chef John suggested and made the Cuban bread. I am so happy! Read More

Helpful

(2)

Carmel DeJohn O'Brien

04/02/2017

Absolutely Fabulous Only difference I used Portuguese Rolls Read More

Helpful

(2)

Linemans wife

02/13/2017

I absolutely love Cuban sandwiches. I could eat this everyday. I think the flavors of this sandwich depend on the quality of the individual ingredients. This will be a regular in my home. Read More

Helpful

(2)

Patricia Hall

08/30/2017

Fabulous! Easy to make and easy to clean up. I used our George Foreman grill and this was a hit!!! Read More

Helpful

(1)

Cinders57

04/09/2017

This is the most authentic Cuban Sandwich recipe I have found yet! Didn't change a thing...delicous!!! Read More

Helpful

(1)

Hilda M Alvarez

08/13/2019

Sounds good but - - - - - - No Mayo please - never. Just butter on one side and mustard on the other. Pork is really Lechon Asado with classic Mojo seasoning. ; ) Read More

More Reviews

Back to Chef John's Cuban Sandwich

All Reviews for Chef John's Cuban Sandwich

- of Reviews

Chef John's Cuban Sandwich

Servings Per Recipe: 2
Calories: 1473.1

% Daily Value *

protein: 177 %

carbohydrates: 28 %

dietary fiber: 21 %

sugars:

fat: 131 %

saturated fat: 187 %

cholesterol: 96 %

vitamin a iu: 33 %

niacin equivalents: 114 %

vitamin b6: 29 %

vitamin c: 21 %

folate: 12 %

calcium: 98 %

iron: 23 %

magnesium: 36 %

potassium: 12 %

sodium: 163 %

thiamin: 24 %

calories from fat:

*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.

Reviews for: Photos of Chef John's Cuban Sandwich

1 of 55

All Reviews

CUDZUBob

04/21/2017

Helpful

(14)

Susie Bross Gerchicoff

06/22/2017

Helpful

(5)

Brenda Rahmlow

09/03/2017

Fantastic. I made it with less mustard but I think it was not enough so the recipe must be right on. I loved it and it tasted like it came from a high -end sandwich shop.

Helpful

(3)

Jess Pefferman

07/17/2017

Love it! I looking to use left over pork roast- this recipe worked great!

Helpful

(2)

BigSteve14

06/22/2017

I love this sandwich. I used the pork Chef John suggested and made the Cuban bread. I am so happy!

Helpful

(2)

Carmel DeJohn O'Brien

04/02/2017

Absolutely Fabulous Only difference I used Portuguese Rolls

Helpful

(2)

Linemans wife

02/13/2017

I absolutely love Cuban sandwiches. I could eat this everyday. I think the flavors of this sandwich depend on the quality of the individual ingredients. This will be a regular in my home.

Helpful

(2)

Patricia Hall

08/30/2017

Fabulous! Easy to make and easy to clean up. I used our George Foreman grill and this was a hit!!!

Helpful

(1)

Cinders57

04/09/2017

This is the most authentic Cuban Sandwich recipe I have found yet! Didn't change a thing...delicous!!!

Helpful

(1)

Hilda M Alvarez

08/13/2019

Sounds good but - - - - - - No Mayo please - never. Just butter on one side and mustard on the other. Pork is really Lechon Asado with classic Mojo seasoning. ; )