Miami-Style Cuban Sandwich Recipe (Cubano) (2024)

Growing up, Cuban sandwiches were a part of my childhood.

Aside from ordering ham croquetas, Cuban coffee, and pastelitos de guayaba, I also loved ordering a Cuban sandwich with a batido de trigo here in Cuban restaurants in South Florida.

It was the best thing ever!

What’s in a Cuban Sandwich?

A Cuban sandwich (or a Cubano sandwich as it’s sometimes called) is a Cuban panini, if you will, made withCuban roast pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickle chips, and mustard served on buttered, pressed Cuban bread.

This popular pork sandwich is said to have originated from Cuban immigrants in Tampa or Key West and later spread in popularity here in South Florida.

There’s always been a bit of a rivalry between Miami and Tampa (and even Key West) in terms of origin and variations. Some serve this pressed pork sandwich with salami, and others with lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

In this recipe, I’m sharing how you can make the best homemade Miami Cuban sandwich without salami, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Let’s do this!

When you’re done making this recipe, make another one of my authentic Cuban recipes!

Best Bread for Cuban Sandwich

The best Cuban sandwiches in Miami are made with Cuban bread.

Cuban bread is made with few, simple ingredients and no preservatives which is why it is always so soft and pillowy on the inside.

While there’s no substitute, in my opinion, if you can’t find Cuban bread in your area, you want to use any loaf of bread that is soft in the middle.

French bread could work if you find one that’s not very crusty. Italian bread may do a better job as Cuban sandwich bread for this recipe.

Recommended For This Recipe

Cast Iron Pan

Cast iron pans are slow to heat up but retain heat longer which makes cast iron ideal for pan-frying and roasting.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

• Mojo marinade. This is a citrus marinade made with orange juice, lime juice, and garlic cloves which gives the pork an elevated flavor!

• Cuban complete seasoning. A mix of spices including oregano and cumin which we’ll use to marinate the pork.

• Cuban bread. An Italian loaf of bread may work if you can’t find Cuban bread. The loaf should be approximately 8-inches long.

• Yellow mustard.

• Swiss cheese.

• Sweet deli sliced ham.

• Dill pickle slices.

• Unsalted butter for pressing the sandwich.

• Sliced Pork tenderloin. You can also use any leftover sliced pork tenderloin or pork shoulder. By the way, you can order a pork tenderloin from Butcher Box.

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How To Make A Cuban Sandwich

• Marinate the pork. With a knife or fork, poke holes into the pork tenderloin. Place the pork tenderloin in a baking dish and pour mojo marinade on top along with the Cuban seasoning. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight. The longer the better.

• Cook the roast pork. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the pork tenderloin from the marinade and place it on the baking sheet. Roast for 20-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 150º. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing on a bias.

You can also make this recipe for Cuban roast pork and use the leftovers to make this sandwich!

• Slice the bread. To assemble the sandwich, slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise.

• Add the ingredients. Spread 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard on each side. Layer the bottom half of the sandwich with 2 slices of Swiss cheese, 4 slices of ham, 2-3 dill pickles, and 2-3 thin slices of pork. Repeat for the remaining sandwiches.

• Press the Cuban sandwich. Spread 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter on the outsideof both sides of the sandwich. Place the sandwich on a sandwich press, panini press, cast iron pan, or hot grill pan. Press down on the sandwich at medium heat, until both sides are golden brown, and the cheese has melted about 5-6 minutes total. Transfer to a cutting board and slice the sandwich in half on the bias.

Serving Tips

Cuban sandwiches are pretty much a meal on their own however you can serve them with plantain chips or french fries.