How To Make Cubanos with Homemade Cuban Bread

Cuban bread

🥗Healthier: whole grain bread

💰Cheaper: French bread

Whole grain bread adds fiber while French bread is more accessible.

Swiss cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: American cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories, while American cheese is budget-friendly.

roast pork

🥗Healthier: grilled chicken

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Grilled chicken is leaner, while pork shoulder is often less expensive.

pickles

🥗Healthier: cucumber slices

💰Cheaper: dill relish

Cucumber slices provide freshness, while dill relish is a cost-effective alternative.

Prepare the Moho marinade by blending shallots, garlic, orange zest, lime zest, oregano, mint, cumin, serrano chiles, olive oil, kosher salt, lime juice, and orange juice until smooth.

Separate out 1 cup of the marinade and refrigerate it for later use.

Pour the remaining marinade over the pork shoulder in a plastic bag, seal it, and marinate overnight in the fridge.

To make Cuban bread, mix warm water with active dry yeast and let it sit for 8 minutes.

Combine bread flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl, then add the yeast mixture and mix until smooth.

Add lard and mix until combined, then let the dough rise for 45 minutes to an hour until doubled.

Punch down the dough, divide it, roll each piece into a log, and let it proof for 30 minutes.

Score the dough and bake in a preheated oven with steam for 8 to 10 minutes, then reduce heat and bake for another 20 to 22 minutes until browned.

Remove the pork from the marinade and place it in a Dutch oven with the marinade, adding chicken stock if necessary.

Bake the pork at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then reduce to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 to 3.5 hours until tender.

Shred the pork and toss it with the caramelized Moho sauce.

Toast the inside of the Cuban bread in a pan with butter.

Sear slices of boiled ham in the same pan until browned.

Assemble the sandwich with mustard, pickles, ham, shredded pork, and Swiss cheese, then toast the sandwich until golden.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens