Cuban Pork Roast Sandwich Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Grind garlic, salt, black pepper, cumin, oregano, and coriander into a paste using a mortar and pestle.
• Transfer half of the garlic and spice paste to a bowl; add lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, and vinegar. Beat the mixture with a whisk until smooth.
• Cut several inch-long, deep slits into the fatty side of the pork roast. Rub the reserved garlic paste into the slits.
• Put rubbed roast into a gallon-size resealable plastic bag. Pour the liquid mixture over the roast, squeeze as much air from the bag as possible and seal; refrigerate, turning occasionally, 8 hours to overnight.
• Remove pork roast from refrigerator, put into a roasting pan, and let warm at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Roast pork in preheated oven for 30 minutes, reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and continue cooking until pork is no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 170 degrees F (75 degrees C).

Steps:

• Place onion wedges and broth in a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the parsley, 5 garlic cloves, vinegar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, cumin, mustard, oregano, salt and pepper; rub over pork. Add to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 6-8 hours., Remove meat; let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. In another small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard and remaining garlic and lemon juice; spread over buns. Layer bun bottoms with pork, cheese, sliced onion and pickles; replace tops., Cook on a panini maker or indoor grill until buns are browned and cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes.

Steps:

• For the pork loin: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle the oil over the pork and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer the pork to a rack over a heavy-bottomed roasting pan. Roast the pork until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loin reads 140 degrees F, about 1 hour. Let the pork rest for 10 minutes, and then reserve 1 1/4 pounds for the sandwich. Slice 1/4-inch thick. Reserve the remaining pork for another recipe. For the mojo spread: Add the mayonnaise, oil, cilantro, salt, garlic and lime juice to a bowl and stir until evenly combined and spreadable. For the sandwich: Heat a large, 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Spread the top half of each of the rolls with 2 tablespoons of the mojo spread and 2 teaspoons mustard. Layer the bottom half of the rolls with pork, seasoning it with a pinch of salt. Top with the ham, cheese and pickles. Place the top half of the roll over the bottom half. Brush the skillet with the butter, place 2 sandwiches in the skillet and brush the top half with butter. Place another cast-iron pan on top of the sandwiches with a heavy can to press down. Alternatively, you can use a panini press. Cook until the bread becomes golden brown on one side, and then flip and repeat on the other side, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Cook the remaining 2 sandwiches.

Steps:

• Heat a small, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and peppercorns to the pan; stir constantly until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Cool.
• Using a mortar and pestle, crush toasted spices with garlic, salt, and oregano to make a paste. You can also do this in the small bowl of a food processor. Transfer to a small bowl, and stir in orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, sherry, and olive oil.
• Place the pork in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour citrus marinade over meat, and seal. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours, turning the bag over occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Transfer pork and marinade to a roasting pan, and place in the oven. Roast for about 2 1/2 hours, basting with pan juices occasionally, or until an instant read thermometer inserted in the center reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Add small amounts of water to the pan if it dries out. Transfer the pork to a carving board, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 15 minutes. Carve, and serve.

Steps:

• Prepare Pork for Slow Cooking (1 day):.
• Combine marinade ingredients.
• Stab the pork all over to allow for better marinade penetration.
• Marinade pork for 12-24 hours.
• Remove from marinade and bring to room temperature (reserve marinade for later).
• Heat large skillet with a small amount of olive oil until smoking hot.
• Sear pork on all sides in skillet.
• Leave the pan alone and keep it for cooking onions later.
• Place pork in roasting pan, and pour marinade into pan (ideally pan should be about 3 inches wider/longer then pork.).
• Loosely tent pan with foil.
• Slow Cook Pork (preferably use Traeger pellet grill):.
• Place in 300 degree oven (or preferably Traeger pellet grill).
• Cook for 2 hours tented.
• Reduce heat to 250.
• Cook for 1 more hour uncovered, basting every 20 minutes with marinade.
• Turn Pork over and cook for 1 more hour, basting every 20 minutes with marinade.
• Your cooking time will vary depending on meat and pan size. Uncovering the pan is done to reduce the marinade. Your goal is to use most of the marinade but not to burn it. You will still have considerable burnt and caramelized pieces at the end of the cooking cycle. Re-cover the pan if necessary, to preserve liquid. The pork should basically fall apart by the end of the cooking cycle.
• Remove pork, cover with foil and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Pull the pork apart into medium sized chunks with claws.
• Aioli (prepare while cooking pork and refrigerate):.
• Soak white bread in vinegar.
• Place it in a kitchen aid mixer with all remaining ingredients EXCEPT olive oil.
• Whip on medium setting until thoroughly blended.
• Slowly drizzle in NON-Extra virgin (regular) Olive Oil. Increase speed of the mixer as it begins to emulsify and turn into a mayonnaise-like consistency.
• Place in refrigerator.
• Caramelize Onions (Prepare while letting the pork rest):.
• Cut onion into thick slices (about 1/2 inch wide).
• Heat pan used for searing pork over Medium/low heat adding a little olive oil.
• Add onion to pan.
• Slowly caramelize onions, stirring occasionally. Onions should be soft and browned, but not burnt.
• Prepare the sandwich:.
• The original used a harder roll sliced completely in half. I use a Bahn Mi roll cut more like a Philly steak sandwich bun. I get my buns at Q Bakery in Columbia City. This allows me to stuff the sandwich and not have a complete mess.
• Cut roll and LIGHTLY toast inside.
• Spread Aioli generously on inside.
• Add some cilantro, a branch of romaine, a few jalapeños, some caramelized onions, and stuff with pork.
• Finally, eat the best sandwich ever.

Steps:

• For each sandwich, spread one cut side of each bun with 1/2 teaspoon mustard and the other side with 1 teaspoon mayonnaise. Layer pork, ham, cheese and 3 pickle slices in each bun, folding meats or cheese to fit if necessary. Press sandwiches firmly with palm of hand to flatten to about 1-inch thickness.
• Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush tops of sandwiches with melted butter. Place sandwiches, buttered sides down, in skillet. Brush bottoms with remaining butter. Cook about 6 minutes, turning once, until crisp and brown on both sides.