Cuban Roast Sandwich Recipes

Steps:

• Cut sixteen 1-in. slits in pork; insert garlic slices. In a large bowl, combine the onions, orange juice, lime juice and seasonings. Pour 1-1/2 cups marinade into another large bowl; add pork and turn to coat with marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight, turning pork occasionally. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade., Preheat oven to 350°. Drain pork, discarding drained marinade. Place pork and reserved marinade in a shallow roasting pan. Bake tender, 3-1/2 to 4 hours, basting occasionally. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing., Meanwhile, cut each loaf of bread in half lengthwise; flatten slightly. Spread cut side with butter; spread crust side with mustard. Cut pork into thin slices. Layer pickles, pork, ham and cheese over the mustard. Replace tops so buttered side is outward. Cut each loaf into sixths., Cook in batches on a panini maker or indoor grill for 4-5 minutes or until bread is browned and cheese is melted.

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:

• 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:

• Cut Cuban bread to desired size, common size is 7 inches. Next, slice open the bread down the middle. On the topside of the bread spread 1-ounce of mustard, evenly across. Then place 4 pickles on top of the mustard. You then place 1 slice of Swiss cheese on top of the pickles. Slice ham to desired thickness, recommended size is 1 1/2 ounces per slice, the thinner the better. Now fold each slice of ham in half and place evenly on bottom of bread. On top of the ham, place slices of roast pork, 1 1/2 ounces per slice. You then join both halves of the sandwich. You are now ready to grill your Cuban sandwich.
• Use a sandwich grill if you have one, a waffle iron if not. Spread butter on top of the bread evenly. Close the grill, smashing the sandwich. Leave sandwich in the grill until top of bread turns to a golden brown, and top is crisp. Approximate time is 4 to 6 minutes. After the sandwich is crispy and the cheese has melted, remove the sandwich carefully and slice it diagonally, from corner to corner. DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE OVEN!

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:

• 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.