Veggie Cuban Sandwich Recipe 455

Steps:

• Whisk the mayonnaise, ketchup and relish in a small bowl. Lay out 24 slices of bread and lightly spread one side of each with the mayonnaise mixture. Top 4 slices with lettuce and grilled mushrooms. Top with another slice of bread, mayonnaise-side up, followed by cheese, grilled eggplant and a third slice of bread, mayonnaise-side down. Set aside. Top 4 more slices of bread with lettuce, cheese and marinated tomato. Top with another slice of bread, mayonnaise-side up, followed by marinated zucchini and radishes, and pickled onions. Top with the remaining 4 slices of bread, mayonnaise-side down. Stack the eggplant clubs on top of the zucchini clubs to make a Dagwood, secure with a long skewer and top with an olive. Arrange the Dagwoods on a platter; dismantle into club sandwiches to serve.
• Marinated Radishes: Thinly slice 1 bunch radishes. Toss with the juice of 1 lemon and season with salt and pepper. Let marinate about 20 minutes.
• Grilled Eggplant: Mix 1/2 cup olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon minced thyme. Thinly slice 1 eggplant. Brush with the garlic oil, season with salt and pepper and grill until charred, about 3 minutes per side.
• Pickled Onions: Bring 1 1/4 cups red wine vinegar, 6 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1 bay leaf, a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil. Add 2 sliced red onions and simmer 1 minute; let cool.
• Grilled Mushrooms: Mix 1/2 cup olive oil and 3 minced garlic cloves. Scrape out the gills from 8 portobello mushroom caps, brush with the garlic oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill about 4 minutes per side.
• Marinated Zucchini: Thinly slice 2 zucchini lengthwise. Lay on a platter, sprinkle with the zest and juice of 1 lemon and season with salt and pepper. Let marinate about 20 minutes.
• Marinated Tomatoes: Thinly slice 2 beefsteak tomatoes and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Let marinate about 20 minutes.

Steps:

• Slice a 1/3 pound of criollo bread "baguette". Slather the insides with yellow mustard. Place Swiss cheese on one side, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles on the other. Place in a pannini press or a George Foreman grill and press the sandwich so the bread toasts and the sandwich flattens a bit. You could press without the lettuce sand tomato and add them afterwards, but sometimes the cheese melts so much that it's difficult to reopen to add the salad.

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:

• Heat a griddle (or use a sandwich press) or cast-iron skillet to very hot. Spread the mustard and sour cream on the top halves. On the bottom halves layer the roasted pepper, mushrooms, spinach, olives, cheese and pickle. Cover with the top halves, and wrap each sandwich tightly in aluminum foil. Place these sandwiches on the griddle or skillet, and then place a heavy skillet on top; try to distribute the weight evenly over the sandwiches. (You can even use a brick to do this!) Cook 3 to 5 minutes, pressing down occasionally to flatten the sandwiches. Serve immediately.