Cubano!

[Mark_E]

Did this yesterday. Maybe I just forgot how good these are, but this one was really really good. Perfect crusty texture of the fresh bread, with the perfect flavor of the pulled pork, ham slice, and the dill pickles. Gooey swiss cheese. Cayenne mustardy goodness. I'd love to do another one today but I have an oyster po' boy on the menu.

There's no Cuban bread in the DC area that I can find and I'm not a bread baker. So through the years, I have been using Panera ciabatta which is pretty close, although it's a bit too dense. I use Chef John's recipe which is not perfectly authentic, but it's my favorite. It just tastes good! You gotta pre-heat the pulled pork so it's piping hot. Spread is 50/50 mayo/mustard with cayenne pepper sprinkled in. I forgot the money shot - the diagonal slice in half. Dammit.

 

[Darryl - swazies]

I have never made it with pulled pork before but it sure does look really tasty!

 

[JimK]

I've got a butt on now and it doesn't look like it'll be ready for dinner. I think you've just motivated me to make some Cubans over the weekend though. Also in the DC area (Chantilly, VA to be exact). Do you just go to Panera and buy the bread?

 

[Peter Gallagher]

nice sammy - that's quite the smasher you have - very cool!

 

[Bruno]

Oh damn that looks great!

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

I see several of those in my future!!

 

[DanHoo]

Looks tasty. Nicely done

 

[BFletcher]

You're on fire with your cooks! This looks awesome; thanks for sharing.

 

[Joan]

I have an artical from Food Network mag. (7/11) that says the CUBAN sandwich originated in TAMPA, FL,

 

[ChuckO]

Nicely done Mark. You provide Uber Eats?

 

[Mark_E]

I've got a butt on now and it doesn't look like it'll be ready for dinner. I think you've just motivated me to make some Cubans over the weekend though. Also in the DC area (Chantilly, VA to be exact). Do you just go to Panera and buy the bread?

Yes, because the ciabatta at Panera is fresh and soft. But if you can find legit Cuban bread in your area, buy that! Otherwise, I found that Panera ciabatta works nicely. Once I made the mistake of buying ciabatta at harris teeter and it was like a rock. So go to Panera. I would get it in the morning between 9-10 before they sell out. Also, they come in a paper sleeve. So after one day, cut into 3 or 4 inch lengths and put in a zip lock so that they don't get hard. Then they'll stay good for several days. I just made another Cubano today and it was awesome!